International students can apply to participate in the International Friendship Family Program to ease the transition to a new country and culture.
The International Friendship Family program connects international students with Case Western Reserve University alumni living in the Cleveland area. The program matches more than 30 international students each fall with a local family for an occasional home-cooked meal and to learn about American holidays and visit Cleveland’s cultural and entertainment attractions.
The program is geared toward students who are in the United States for the first time and are new graduate students who do not have the benefit of living with American students in the university residence halls. Families and their international students get together at least two to three times each semester.
The match is officially made for just one year. However, many of the international students and their friendship families stay connected for many months and even years.
Newly enrolled international students who would like to participate must apply between Sept. 1 and Oct. 1. Interested alumni who would like to participate can apply through Oct.1.
Questions about the program can be emailed to international-friendship-family@case.edu.
More information is available at students.case.edu/programs/friendship/.