Social networking for the new international students
Archive 2014 Nov 14, 2014 Arieshadela Irwantini
To welcome over 3,000 new international students to Humber this year, International Center come up with event International Student Meet and Greet.
“We are inviting all the new international students to come up and meet our staff, ask questions they might have about Humber,” said Kristina Mathias, International Student Advisor. “We are also inviting returning students to come up, if they are looking to meet someone new and make some new friends.”
This upcoming event will take place at Humber College Lakeshore Campus on next Thursday, September 25, at 3.30 pm by the H building. The event itself is one of many different ways from International Center to help the new international students feel comfortable in an unfamiliar environment. Also for those students that have few international students in program, this event is the opportunity to see that there are other students that just like them, who are new and learning to adjust.
“I think it is great, because new students can make lots of friends from different cultural backgrounds and also known various cultures,” said Shirley Xie, new international student from China.
The International Student Meet and Greet is a casual event that will give both new and returning student a chance to strengthen their social networks here at Humber. Kristina also said that this event is just an icebreaker to have some fun and hopefully will help the international student to reach their comfort level. Moreover, there are some expectations from the student regarding the event.
“Maybe there will be some chatting room online or something that students could communicate with each other,” said Christopher, new international student from Indonesia. “I’m happy with this event as I don’t know anyone yet, so I hope I can make some friends from the event.”
The only concern that this Meet and Greet event have is the weather. As the International Center is planning to have the event outside the building, according to International Center’s website, there will be Canadian BBQ, snacks and games. The students also can join to take self-pictures and will be entered in a draw to win great prizes.
“It is always nice to do it outside, so we can throw around a football, play Frisbee, play badminton, we can have a lot of games going on out there so they (students) always have a great time,” said Kristina. “So that is always something great to come up at the Meet and Greet.”