New: The Friendship Partner Program form is now online.
The following is from Randy Mogler, who has coordinated the Friendship Partner program for a number of years. He shares some of his experiences.
The PAFIS Bylaws state the purpose of the organization is to bring together Peoria area individuals, families, and international students to learn about and appreciate one another's cultures.
Additionally, it promotes an understanding of American life, provides the local community with opportunities to know and understand students, and to appreciate the cultures of their respective countries, annually gives scholarships to qualifying international students, and helps the students know and use the resources of our community and country.
A bulk of that purpose is actualized in the Friendship Partner program—formerly called Host Family program. The Friendship Partner program matches international students with individuals who have applied to be Friendship Partners with the students.
There is no doubt a wide variety of Friendship Partner experiences among those involved in the program.
My wife and I have been involved as Friendship Partners since 1996, and we have categorized our experiences into three categories:
Our very first experience with Friendship Partner students was the year we did nothing, unfortunately. That year we met our first two very kind Indian students at an organized PAFIS activity. We enjoyed out interchange and dialog very much that evening. The trouble is, we never saw the students again. We couldn't track them down from apartment to apartment, nor could we provide greater attraction than their already established peer group from their city in India. That was the year we did nothing with our students.
We're so thankful that we came back for a 2nd round. We had no idea that when we met Getnet from Ethiopia that we'd become lifelong friends, and that he would become one of our family.
It actually started off in full force. We met him as scheduled—pick up times and understanding of the event were clear (they aren't always). We enjoyed a wonderful dinner at a Thai restaurant. This was mutual ground where we could discuss the food of another culture, but it was neither of our cultures. The evening ended with a beautiful night drive tour of the Peoria area.
From this evening sprang a myriad of learning experiences for him and us.
Here's a sample of activities and experiences that were shared:
But one of the more heartwarming moments was a time we spontaneously stopped at his apartment, just to say hello. We found him sitting on his front porch alone, looking sad and lonely in the dark. He told us it was a special holiday in Ethiopia and he missed his family. We went for coffee and shared.
That was Getnet. He became a member of the family.
Certainly not all friendship partners will have the time or the energy to engage in such levels of involvement and activity. Some students will not want this.
Others of our students have been good, but not so intense. Some students have participated in a few family events such as two students did last year. They decided to be part of our traditional family meal. We usually go to church before the big feed, and the students decided they wanted to go with us. The trouble is, we arrived to pick them up in the morning to find they had not begun to get ready to go. Their housemates offered us hot milk with a little tea. We assumed we'd be ushered to the front of the church due to being late—which we were!
Everyone at church enjoyed meeting these gentlemen, and later we went to the meal.Though it was their first Thanksgiving, the engineering students recommended we place the turkey at a different angle for a better carving. They were right!
No matter what level of involvement we enjoy, we do find purpose in these interactions.
Several years ago after the New Student Orientation, a group of students were standing outside Garrett Center where the New Student Orientation occurs. We introduced ourselves and shook everyone's hands. After visiting for some time, we began to depart. One student came up to us and said, "Thank you so much for stopping and shaking our hands. This made us feel welcome here in Peoria."
These experiences help us actualize our PAFIS purpose. We encourage each of you to be active at any level you are able, and we sincerely believe you can affect the lives of others and grow in the process as you do.
We have!
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