friday, October 24, 1980
page 2
daily nebraskan
Group matches foreign students with local hosts
By Pat Carraher
An organization has changed its name and is trying
to expand its work in Lincoln.
The Lincoln Friends of Foreign Students, formerly
called the Host Family Association, is a local group which
matches a foreign student with a local resident, or host,
to help with any problems the foreign student might have.
"It's an all-volunteer program, said Marge Borman,
assistant coordinator of the program. "We have applica
tions from foreign students, and we have applications
from Lincoln residents. My job is to match them up."
In the past, the hosts for the foreign students were
usually families. However, it seems that has changed.
Borman said that now they are happy to include anyone,
male or female, married or single, in the organization. She
also said that the foreign students may be either married
or single.
"Once the foreign student has been matched with a
host, it is entirely up to them how often they want to
meet, and what they want to do when they meet,"
Borman said.
The meeting may be made sc the foreign student can
receive some help for a certain problem. Local
procedures, such as getting a drivers license, may cause
some problems for a foreign student.
The student may want to meet with someone just for
a social get-together, she said.
"The meetings are usually a social thing. The host
may want to invite the student to a meal, a concert, a
game of cards or something like this," Borman said.
It is recommended that the student should see his
Lincoln host once a week, although some are so busy that
even meeting once a month is difficult.
A good example of a useful meeting between a host
and a foreign student is a holiday meai, Borman said.
A holiday meal not only gives the student some place to
go for a holiday, but also allows for an exchange of
culture during a holiday.
Twice a year, all those involved in the program get
together for an activity.
"We only have two group meetings a year," she said.
"One is a picnic right before first semester, and the other
is a winter activity right before the start of the second
semester."
While work in the organization seems to be going well,
Borman said there is one major problem that it faces.
"Right now, we aren't able to match up all the
foreign students with a host," she said. "We don't have
enough applications from potential host families at the
moment.
More Lincoln students and area residents should get
involved in the program, and become a host, she said.
"I suppose, first of all, it.s very helpful to the foreign
student, but both will get a lot of enjoyment out of it.
I don't know of one person ever involved in the program
who hasn't enjoyed it," she said.
Linda Becker, of the International Educational Services
Deoartment at UNL, agrees with Borman that more hosts
are needed in the program.
"We have about 200 foreign students placed. That
represents about 150 hosts, or 'friends', since some people
have taken on more than one student," she said. She also
mentioned that there are many more students on a wait
ing list.
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l eaders' Theater will be
tod.y at 1 pjn. in the
Student Y. Nebraska Union
room 117. Al Harris will
lead the group in an
informal sharing of studejits'
writings and thoughts.
Everyone is welcome.
InterVarsity Christia
Fellowship will have a meet
ing at 7 tonight in the Ne
braska Union. Room will
be posted.
UNL Chess Club will
meet on Monday from 6:30
to 1 1 p.m. in the South
Crib of the Nebraska Union.
Everyone is invited to
play badminton every
Monday from 6 to 7 pjn.
Equipment is provided. For
more information, call 472-1264.
iH WOT
"HI
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Don't
Ellioo It!!
PoIICQfCGt
Party
Branched Oak Inn
Malcolm, Nebr.
Sat., Oct. 25
8:30 to 12:30
Music by
THE POLICKY
ORCHESTRA
If you like to Polka,
you'll love this party.