We’re doing great with Ji Dong. She is a delightful first-year and we’re having a lot of contact between e-mails and visits. Early on, we went to see her at her dorm room as she was getting settled. She gave us a tour of the area and the dining hall (which she loved!). We have had her to our house for dinner where she sampled American cheeseburgers (which she loved!) and met our two cats. Then we met her at Carr’s Hill for dinner last week and had a lot of fun—the weather was especially nice. At the end of the evening we took her picture with John Casteen (yes, which she loved!). She was quite eager to send the photo back to her mom and dad in China.

It’s a delight to get to know Ji. We will continue to watch over her throughout the school year and miss her in the
summer when she returns home.

We are enjoying our new student, Kimberley Lim from Singapore immensely.  We met her flight at Dulles Airport, drove her to our home where we had dinner together and she spent the night.  We then took her to campus and walked her through all the check-in procedures, moved her into her dorm and took her and her roommate out to lunch.  Somewhere in there we also did a shop with Kimberley at K-Mart and the next day took here to AT&T to get her cell phone activated and to Fashion Square Mall.  The first Sunday Kimberley and her roommate came to our home for brunch. We’ve been in touch a couple of times by phone just to see how she is adjusting.

 We also emailed Kimberley’s parents with a photo we took when we met Kim at Dulles.  I’m attaching that photo to this email.  We are thrilled with our involvement with the IHP program and find it very enriching with potentially life long friendships to enjoy.  Thanks for all you for this program.

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

]]> http://ihpvirginia.org/2009/04/27/08-09-community-host-survey-results-summary/feed/ 0 virginiaihp http://ihpvirginia.org/2009/04/22/hiking-with-my-host-family/ http://ihpvirginia.org/2009/04/22/hiking-with-my-host-family/#comments Wed, 22 Apr 2009 01:12:06 +0000 virginiaihp http://ihpvirginia.org/?p=91 ]]>

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

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

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

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

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

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.