Email: mvk@ihouse.necoxmail.com         Web: http://members.cox.net/internationalhouse
 
 

Dear International Student:

Welcome to Rhode Island! We are sure you are looking forward to living and studying in the U.S.A. this year. International House of Rhode Island is a non-profit institution run largely by American volunteers, whose purpose is to encourage friendship and understanding between the citizens of Rhode Island and international visitors such as you. We are here to help you and we offer many intercultural programs, English language classes and tutoring, orientation activities, womenís and childrenís groups and other services. We welcome you to visit us and we hope that your stay in our state is as rewarding as possible.

To help you with your stay in Rhode Island, International House would like to offer you the opportunity to participate in our International Friendship Program. Through this program you will be able to receive hospitality from an individual or family that lives in Rhode Island or nearby Massachusetts. These hosts, who are of all ages and of many different backgrounds, may help you get settled, learn about our customs and culture, and get a good start in Rhode Island. They may invite you to their home for special events and holidays. (Please note that you do not live with your host.) There will be other opportunities to meet people within the community, but this program emphasizes the goal of a continuing relationship between you and your host. Although each experience is different, many life-long friendships have resulted from the International Friendship Program.

If you would like to be part of this program, please return the enclosed application as soon as possible to the attention of:

International Friendship Committee at International House of RI, 8 Stimson Ave., Providence, RI 02906

If we hear from you soon enough, we will be able to provide you with the name of your International Friend during the summer so that you can communicate with each other before you arrive. If you have any difficulties when you reach Rhode Island, please call us between 9 AM and 5PM (Mondays through Friday). You may contact us if you have problems trying to reach your host. We wish you a safe trip and look forward to welcoming you to International House. If you need help with temporary dormitory housing when you first arrive, please contact Brown University Residential Life Office at (401) 863-3500.

Sincerely,

               Antoinette Schleyer and Shirley Schreiber, Coordinators, Int. Friendship Prgrm.