Hospitality Adds a New Family Member
Eric and Rebecca Vaas had entered a season of life that many empty nesters find themselves in. Recently retired with their children grown and moved out, they were looking for ways to steward their time and resources well. This led them to get involved with IFI. “We enjoy meeting new people,” the Vaases explain, “and […]
The Definition of a Miracle
Daniel stepped off a plane earlier this year with a mix of emotions. He had come to pursue a Postdoc in Mechanical Engineering, but leaving his young family behind in Nigeria was hard for him. Thankfully, before his arrival in the US, Daniel had done some research. “I wanted to meet the Nigerian community here […]
Structured VS Spontaneous Hosts: Understanding Hospitality in Different Cultures
Based on Sarah A. Lanier’s book Foreign to Familiar, McDougal Publishing: 2000. “One of the shocks a foreigner encounters the moment he arrives in some direct countries is that he needs money to survive…Many travelers from indirect countries, if they happen to be limited in funds, have saved, sacrificed, and received gifts from family and friends […]
Reflections on Decades of Serving International Students
Bob Tanquist and his wife, Marilyn, began volunteering with IFI before it had a name! The church they joined after moving to Columbus in 1979 connected them to IFI founders Phil and Ruth Saksa and Mabel Bahler. Bob and Marilyn enjoyed helping at IFI dinner meetings, bringing food, and gathering with students until about 2005 […]
The Vibrancy of Volunteering
Kayla and Fatoumata became friends through IFI and both shared their side of the story with us. To read Fatoumata’s perspective, click here. Kayla, an IFI volunteer, and Fatoumata, an international student, crossed paths about 3 years ago in August of 2019. They both had signed up to help out at IFI’s annual furniture sale […]
Two Sides of Time: Task-oriented Cultures vs Event-oriented Cultures
Based on: Sarah A. Lanier’s book Foreign to Familiar. McDougal Publishing: 2000. “When living in Europe, I carried a day-timer divided into half-hour blocks from 7 am to 7 pm. There was a page for each day. If a meeting came up, I would check my day-timer. It would tell me whether or not […]
3 Characteristics of an Indirect Communicator
Based on: Sarah A. Lanier’s book Foreign to Familiar. McDougal Publishing: 2000. “I’ve been lonely since moving here (the U.S), and now I know why. When people in the office would ask me if I wanted to go to lunch, I would say ‘no’ to be polite, fully expecting them to ask me again. […]
Indian Friendship Team Loves in Culturally Relevant Ways
IFI seeks to offer cultural activities specific to the students it serves, whether Chinese, African, Middle Eastern, Indian, Latin, or a variety of others. For Indian and Nepalese students in Columbus, IFI has formed the IFI Indian Friendship team. This team is especially important because U.S. universities have seen an influx of Indian students compared […]
7 Tips for Watching Movies with International Friends
Have you been wanting to watch a movie with an international friend, but you’re unsure how to start? Learn from Larissa, a Dayton IFI Staff member, who has great tips about the best ways to watch movies with internationals! What are the benefits of watching movies with International Friends? Movies open up opportunities to talk […]
Volunteers Share Maple Syrup Making with Students
Nine years ago, Tom and Jody Slemmer didn’t know how to make the maple syrup that now attracts groups of international students out to their farm. Originally, Tom and Jody lived in the suburbs, but they both loved the outdoors and wanted a place where they could watch things grow. With no “real” farm experience, […]