For some students, it’s the “most wonderful time of the year”. Some snow has fallen, the holidays have arrived, and there are two breaks from school. But what some people don’t think about are the students who face this “wonderful time of year” without their families, stuck in Bloomington. They are students whose families live on another side of the world.

For some, this is a choice. But for others, like Hao Sun, who goes by “Lucy,”  this is not a choice. It is something she must do, and she is not thrilled about it. Lucy said it is very lonely when everyone leaves to go home for breaks. She also said it is extremely difficult to not see her parents for almost a year.

Megan Walsh, an advisor at the Office of International Services, said IU does some things to try to help these students. This year, for example, OIS paired up with IU Outdoor Adventures and tried to put together a camping trip to Illinois where there would be lots of outdoor activities, followed by a big Thanksgiving meal at the end of the week. Unfortunately, not enough students showed interest and they had to cancel their plans for this trip.

There are other opportunities for international students to feel at home during the holidays. Bloomington Worldwide Friendships is an organization that matches an international student with a family, or adult, in Bloomington. Walsh said their relationship is especially important around the holidays as many get invited to their host family’s homes for meals and celebrations. There is also an organization called Bloomington International Student Ministries who host events around the holidays for these international students.

IU is a large place, and sometimes it’s easy to get lost in your own world and forget about other people. But around the holidays it is important to think about the students who might not have the luxuries you do and feel grateful for them.

 

 

**Below you can find an interview extra and the IDS’s 2018 International Student Guide front page