Help Case Western Reserve University international students feel welcome in Cleveland by participating in the International Friendship Program. The program is designed to help students transition to life in the U.S. by matching faculty, staff and alumni hosts with international students. Hosts and students get together for home-cooked meals, events on campus and outings in Cleveland. Connections made in the program are designed to last past the students’ times at CWRU.
One student and host pairing, Amal and Mary, enjoyed a number of activities together, such as walking around Lower Shaker Lakes, looking at the Christmas lights at Nela Park, attending the CWRU Lunar New Year celebration, seeing a Cleveland State University women’s basketball game, visiting the Great Lakes Science Center and shopping at the West Side Market.
“I’m delighted that I got to meet Amal,” said Mary, a host and CWRU community member, “as I thoroughly enjoyed my time with her and feel like I’ve made a real friend.”
Likewise, Amal said: “The program did a good job of matching me with Mary. I’ve always felt comfortable around her and we shared a lot of fun activities.”
Amal also would “highly recommend that new international students sign up and enjoy the experience,” as it helped her to “maintain a balanced life” as a first-year PhD student.
Students and hosts can find more information and apply to the program at case.edu/international/international-student-services/living-cleveland/international-friendship-program.