International students are being introduced to a new way of learning about American culture.
The Special Programs Committee of the LSU Ambassadors has started a program called the International Buddies Program, which pairs an Ambassador with an international student and allows them to get to know each other and learn about the other’s culture.
Rozlyn Hebert, a psychology junior and special programs committee chair, said they started planning the program at the beginning of the semester and assigned people to their buddies about three weeks ago.
Maureen Hewitt, International Cultural Center manager, said she thinks the International Buddy Program is very well conceived and an excellent idea.
“It is something that has potential for immediate and long term satisfaction on both sides,” Hewitt said.
Hewitt said the program gives students a chance to do something they may not normally get a chance to do.
“It has the potential of allowing them to develop a long term relationship with someone on the other side of the globe,” Hewitt said.
Hebert said after the first three days, people were calling to tell her they met with their buddies and to tell her how much they enjoyed spending time with them.
The program helps international students because when they come here, most American students already have a group of friends, so it can be difficult for international students to break into others’ groups, Hebert said.
“Many international students come here and hope to learn about American culture but spend all of their time with other international students so they never learn as much as they could,” Hebert said. “Being friends with an American student allows them to do just that.”
Hebert said American students also benefit from the program.
“It lets us see how internationals view American culture,” she said.
Hebert said there are no restrictions on the program. Everyone involved has free reign on what they want to do with their buddies. She said this allows them to feel more comfortable with each other.
Hebert said the program is only open to Ambassadors and international students now, but in the future they may open it to all students.
Hewitt said she thinks it would be a great idea to open the program to all students, or to gradually include more students by expanding the program to include other student organizations.
“This is something that should be happening and growing every term,” Hewitt said. “And it’s definitely something I would like to see grow.”