Learning to Cross Cultures at Home
Lea is a second-year student at Corban University studying intercultural education. She is originally from Washington State, grew up in a military family, and has already lived more cross-culturally than most people twice her age: a gap year in Papua New Guinea, coasts crossed, cultures navigated. When Dawnita, IFI Salem leader, came to speak at […]
Creating Home Away from Home: Living in an International Community
When Simon* moved from South Asia to the U.S. in the summer of 2022, he expected academic challenges. What he didn’t expect was how much living in a cross-cultural community would shape him. Back home, life was naturally communal; the majority of his family lived nearby, friends and neighbors were always dropping in, and shared […]
Helping International Students Navigate Halloween
Every October, international students encounter one of the most visually striking and sometimes confusing cultural celebrations in the States: Halloween. Pumpkins appear on doorsteps, skeletons hang in windows, and people of all ages dress up as everything from superheroes to zombies. For many students, this season raises a lot of questions: “Why do Americans celebrate […]
The Family He Didn’t Know He Needed
When Thomas* arrived in South Korea in August of 2023 from West Asia, the country felt like a complete mystery. Adjusting to the culture was hard. A once outgoing and community-oriented person, Thomas now struggled to connect. The isolation became a daily burden, as he cycled between the lab and his dorm. “I felt excluded,” […]
Finding Peace and Purpose in a New Land
Sara moved from Indonesia to Oregon in the fall of 2022, blessed to receive a government scholarship to pursue her bachelor’s. She was excited to live her American dreams, and did once she landed in the San Francisco and later Portland airports. However, she quickly woke up from her dream once she arrived in her […]
Quality Over Quantity
It all started when Henri and his wife Marguerite heard about IFI through connections at their congregation in Columbus. “This couple was picking up people from around the world,” Henri said. “We got interested because we thought what a good thing for our kids to be exposed to the nations like that!” They signed up […]
Growing in Grace
Kakeru’s journey from Japan to the U.S. began in August of 2023, as he’d decided on a study abroad program in Oregon. His dream of living in the States trumped his anxiety; but when the realities of moving sank in, Kakeru’s confidence quickly faded. “Things weren’t going well,” Kakeru shared. “I was filled with so […]
Welcomed into an Eternal Family
Amy* arrived in Florida from Asia in August of 2023. Although familiar with the culture in the U.S., as she’d done one year of undergrad in Michigan, she still experienced loneliness. “I often felt homesick,” Amy said. “It’s hard to connect with others in your second language, even more so when you’re an introvert. It […]
How to Teach International Students to Drive
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Cultural Humility (pt. 2)
Cultural Humility In Personal Interactions & Spiritual Conversations Last post, we learned about cultural humility – what it is and how to develop it through the cultural humility wheel. This month, we want to give you some practical tips on how to make use of cultural humility in your personal interactions and in spiritual conversations. […]