Hope you enjoy some snapshots of our IHP Community Hosts and students from the 2008-9 season!
May 21, 2009
Collage of photos of Community Hosts and their students
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April 27, 2009
08-09 Community Host Survey results summary
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Response Summary
IHP Community Host Survey 08-09
24 out of 40 Hosts responded
For most of the participants in the survey this was their first year hosting a student. Most participants also heard about the International Host Program through a friend. 80% of those hosting said that their student met their desires to learn about other cultures, to help when needed, and to share meals and American cultural experiences together. 50% met once every other month with their student/s, 30% once a month or more often.
The hosts unanimously reported that they were adequately prepared by the Community Host Forum. Among the IHP activities, half of the respondents participated in the Welcome Reception-Ice Cream Social for International students. Just less than half helped out in the International Undergrad Move-in Day in August and came to the Fall Festival in November. Almost 80% came to the Presidents Reception for International students in September.
A few activities that the hosts shared with their students were:
- Attending art exhibits
- Touring the area
- Eating out
- Shopping
- Meals at home
- Meeting for coffee
- Sharing Thanksgiving and Christmas
- Catching up on the phone
- Cooking together
- Moving in the dorm
Some suggestions for improving the program were to get more folks involved, to provide a half day tour of Charlottesville including sights and neighbourhoods, and to schedule activities at a greater variety of times and dates.
Almost 80% of the hosts plan on participating in the program next year or plan to keep in contact with their existing student. A few not continuing were either moving or found they were over committed.
Thank you to all who participated in the survey. We value your input!
International Host Program Board
April 22, 2009
When I first arrived Charlottesville, I thought I may need a lot time to feel comfortable to this new culture. But the truth is that I felt pretty good in the help of Donasons.
In the first of the weekend, they picked me up at my apartment and this was our first meeting. There are four people in their family. Neal, Thea and their two son Kevin and Ryan. Then they took me to the Humpback Rocks. This was my first hiking in US. The hiking was so great especially, they introduced me a lot of local plants. Many of them were hard to pronounce and remeber, and most of them I never heard before. But that’s fine. I really enjoyed this process to learn. That may be 1 hour’s hiking. When we arrived the top, I really felt I liked this way, blue sky, green forest and fresh wind. You can find us in the photo.
After hiking, they took me back to their house and have dinner with them. Kevin and Ryan told me what was the most traditional American food, cheeseburger. I’m not sure about this, but I really had a lot of delicious American food at that night.
I really enjoyed with my host family. And they really helped me a lot
April 22, 2009
Hello! I am Annabel from Singapore. When I first came to UVA, I was extremely afraid that I wouldn’t be able to fit in with the Americans, get used to the culture, be really lonely, etc. However, I am extremely thankful for the White family for showering me with so much love, care and attention. The first weekend when I came to UVA, they brought me for a spin around Charlottesville to show me the most beautiful and scenic places around. They also offered to drive me to places like Walmart and Target to get any essentials that I needed.
Their care and generosity overwhelmed me as they tirelessly offered to take me around, invited me over to their place, and more. Over fall break, Randy took me and a whole group of my friends to Washington DC for the weekend. We went on an amazing city tour at night, had delicious food, and did a ton of shopping (which of course, made us all extremely happy!). They also surprised me with lovely gifts for my birthday and Christmas, and basically made me feel extremely loved and treasured 
The International Host Program is definitely a great way to help you with getting accustomed to American culture. It doesn’t have a huge time commitment, is very flexible, and of course, extremely fun. Here’s wishing all of you a great year ahead at UVA!
Cheers,
Annabel
October 5, 2008
President Casteen’s annual buffet dinner at Carr’s Hill for new international students and the International Host Program’s Community Hosts on September 8 proved once again to be a warm welcome to new international students and recognition of the administrators and community volunteers who work to promote their wellbeing.
President Casteen welcomed all of us to his and his wife Betsy’s lovely home and was there from start to finish greeting and speaking with what seemed to be most of the 525 attendees. Indeed, we found him talking with the last two guests as we were finishing up for the night.
We thank President Casteen for being a great friend and supporter and appreciate the fine work done by Tracy Smith and others on the President’s staff who make the evening so memorable each year.
The IHP Board of Directors
Tom Leland, Peggy Straughan, -Nancy Damon, Patricia Bean, Steve Braintwain, Antoinette Gray, Petrina Uhlenhopp, Achsah Carrier, Karishma Desouza, Ali Cetiner, Lisa Eorio, Cliff Maxwell
September 18, 2008
We so enjoyed the dinner with the eight nursing students and their professor who were visiting UVa’s School of Nursing from Taiwan. They were delightful—smart, friendly, and enthusiastic about meeting Americans and about sharing themselves and their culture with us.
Our thanks to IHP President, Tom Leland, and his wife, Sharron, who opened their lovely home to twenty dinner guests and to the School of Nursing’s Doris Greiner, Director of Foundation and International Initiatives, and Elke Zschaebitz, for thinking of the IHP and requesting that we be part of their guests’ American experience. We hope they will continue to do so.
Lisa Eorio and Cliff Maxwell
May 5, 2008
A Full Couch
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I love hosting my IHP student, Alia from Egypt, in my home for dinner. Instead of just inviting her, I also invited her universities classmates who are also exchange students for the year. Alia also invited her American suite-mates. We had fun eating traditional American food and sharing about our cultures. All the students enjoyed being in a home away from grounds!
~Leanne
March 12, 2008
International Center ’s Spring Colloquium on Global Climate Crisis
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Tuesday, March 18th at 6pm
“Cooler By Design: The Economics of Building a Successful Environmental Policy” with Dr. William M. Shobe
Director of Business and Economic Research at U.Va.’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service
The program will be followed by a reception.
This is a free event. RSVP appreciated, but not required.
The Lorna Sundberg International Center is at 21 University Circle, two blocks from the intersection of Rugby Rd and Grady Ave.
Limited parking is available behind the IC and at the nearby Hillel building on University Circle.
For directions or more information: 434-924-7983, intlctr@virginia.edu, www.virginia.edu/iso/ic
February 27, 2008
On Super Bowl Sunday, Tom Leland hosted a party in his home for his
English Class students. 16 Chinese, including visiting scholars,
graduate students, etc. came to their first ever Super Bowl Party. In
the picture, Tom is trying to explain some of the basics of American
football. He did comment, however, that many Americans enjoy the TV
commercials even if they don’t watch the game. At this party, a good
time with good food was enjoyed by all.
February 15, 2008
Sundays at the Center: Charlottesville Musician and U.Va. Professor, Heather Maxwell
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Please join us Sunday, February 17th at 3pm for the International Center ’s Sundays at the Center Charlottesville Musician and U.Va. Professor, Heather Maxwell “Urban Ethno Neo Soul: U.S. – Africa ”
Dr. Maxwell will be accompanied by jazz percussionist Robert Jospe and keyboardist Lucy Kilpatrick. Enjoy a blend of world music that draws inspiration from traditional West African rhythms, instruments, and melodies. The program will combine performance and lecture, followed by a reception with food catered by Shebeen.
To learn more about Heather Maxwell and to hear her music, please visit her website.
This is a free event. RSVP appreciated, but not required.
The Lorna Sundberg International Center is at 21 University Circle, two blocks from the intersection of Rugby Rd and Grady Ave.
Limited parking is available behind the IC and at the nearby Hillel building on University Circle.
For directions or more information: 434-924-7983, intlctr@virginia.edu, www.virginia.edu/iso/ic
