Kansas State University - Royal Purple Yearbook (Manhattan, KS)

Page 30 text:

International friendships help Visitors find transition difficult international students in American schools return to their homelands thinking Americans are apathetic, racist, and unfriendly. This is what Bob Taussig, professor of surgery and medicine, learned during the time that he and his wife, Mary. were missionaries in Africa. They talked to countless Africans who had returned home after two to six years in American schools, and what they heard disturbed them. They didn ' t like it here, Taussig said. In their countries, foreigners are welcomed, Invited Into homes and visited. They come to America expecting the same treatment. When they don ' t get it. they withdraw from American Americans often ignore international students. Americans don ' t know what to do. They ' re shy, Taussig said. Additionally, Americans have their own friends, and are generally ignorant of the rest of the world, Taussig said. Many international students who arrive during the summer have a tough time finding an apartment and getting started. Leila Lobo, a graduate student in foods and nutrition from Bombay, India, Is one such student. There was no one to help me the first ten days. I ' d just been left to fend for myself. Elvira Dumayas, a graduate student in agricultural economics from the Philippines, had similar experiences. Other Philippino students helped her much more than Americans so they are the first people she goes to when she needs help. Dumayas said. To combat some of the problems international students have, and to develop cross.cultural communication. the Taussigs began Inviting Africans into their home in 1976. We tried to do things for them. Most of them were feeling isolated, Taussig said. Soon, more Africans were coming over to their home than the Taussigs had time to visit with or help. They began to appeal to local churches for help in 1977 and then to Campus Christian Fellowships in 1980 for volunteers to create friendships with international students. In 1978 a program was started called Helping International Students, or HIS. Currently, 230 Americans are paired with 280 international students. The pairs are divided into smaller groups of 10 to 15 pairs, each with a unit coordinator. The unit coordinator reminds Americans to contact their international friends, and finds out how each relationship is developing, said Janet Maxwell, a former unit coordinator. Each unit functions separately, with a variety of activities for the group to do together. Potlucks, holiday parties, and picnics are popular. The success of HIS depends upon the attitude of each American involved and what their commitment is to the program. said Susan Denton, graduate student in agricultural education from the Philippines. Amy Malone, junior in business, said about the program, They really need to screen Americans to make sure they ' re willing to give time and effort to the relationship. HIS needs to be sure people don ' t have ' the poor little international student ' attitude. Foreign students are just as good as we are. They can sense when we ' re looking down on them. David Riffel, senior In architecture, said that some Americans are not putting their whole heart into the program. HIS is serving a purpose, but it could be doing more. Another important factor to the success of HIS is that each American take the initiative in developing the relationship. But many international students have never been contacted by the person who signed up to be their friend. Leila Lobo had not been contacted by her American friend as late as Thanksgiving. The first thing I did was go to the International Student Center, she said. I signed up Aug. 10 (for an American friend). I was the first to sign up I think. I was really disappointed. In some situations, Americans have trouble contacting their international student because of housing changes the students make. To avoid this, international students are asked to contact the ISC after they have moved, so a Taussig can inform the American. Although housing changes are a reason for lack of communication, Taussig said, most of the failures in communication are usually on the part of the American. When commitment occurs, however, there are often positive results. Mary Taussig, Dr. Taussig, Sally Coltrain, and Dr. Shaver, who to me represent the HIS program, were the very people who encouraged, inspired and gladdened me up during my first days at [(State. Denton said. I was de pressed, confused, lonely and I almost sank. But there they were, calling me up, comforting me, and encouraging me. They even invited me to their places. I surely can ' t forget them. Communication is necessary, but sometimes difficult to achieve between international students and Americans involved in HIS. A student who wished to remain anonymous said he found Midwesterners to be superficial in their conversations with him. He feels Kansans keep their distance from foreigners, pointing out that he never sees Americans and international students mixing In the Union. It ' s really hard sometimes to get past the superficial level. Malone said. But she has successfully crossed the cultural barrier in her relationships with two friends from Malaysia. I ' ve been blessed with two really outgoing friends. They ' re willing to communicate. We ' re willing to accept each other as we are and we aren ' t trying to change each other. Both international students and Americans see the HIS program as a success. Denton changed her attitude toward s Americans because of HIS. I expected Americans to have superiority complexes and to be snooty, but I have found them to be helpful. open, friendly and independent. Maxwell also believes the program is a success in giving international students a positive reaction to Americans. There is so much you can learn, Maxwell said. Americans almost can get more out of HIS than the international students if they are willing to spend the time. HIS is great, acording to Dumayas. It ' s a good way of helping international students and helpful if you have a language problem. If we have a question or a problem, we always have someone to go to. ' MI by Heidi Bright 26 international students

Page 29 text:

Character list — Thanks to Sarah Newham. Kelly Presla. Rhonda Williams. Merilee McCaustland. Layton Smith. Llz Lawless. Chris Kelly. Barb Glenn. Doug Winter. Max Eulert. Tony Elmer. Andrea Baidauf. Clelon Whilebread. Fritz F.dmunds. Jill Hummels. Everett Gardner. and Joyce Kracht for being in the photograph. Special thanks to Dave Jacobs for helping set up the lighting.

Page 31 text:

Friends — Wan Asma Ibrahim. sophomore In chemistry. Amy Malone. junior in business, and Fling Chong Pheng. freshman in food and science Industry, enjoy the acompany of one another. The trio met through the Helping International Students Program. Ibrahim and Chong are from Malaysia. International students 27