DU international students dance

with the Host Family of ISI Denver

As of fall 2012, there were more than 1300 international

students from 93 countries studying at the University

of Denver or approximately 11 percent of the total

student body.

Crossing the ocean to a foreign land with a whole different culture,

international students face huge challenges even just for them to settle

down in the first place.

Most of the international students probably get freaked out

thinking of what the next step should be once they walk out

of the airport.

“I kept

imagining how

tough would it

be once I land in

a new country

surrounded by

some new

cultures until I

met her,” said

Xuechun Li, a

first-year

accounting

major graduate

student at DU,

talking of her

Host Family

sponsor.

The Host Family program, founded and operated by

International Students Inc. (ISI) , provides services for the

international students to get through their life in the U.S.

The Host Family program is

well known for its Airport

Pickup program and

Friendship Partner

program, making sure the

international students get

the best help from the

point when they arrive at

the airport.

“The reason we

founded this

program is to

come along

side of students

that are coming

from countries

all around the

world to study

at universities

in the United

States,” said

Laura Compton,

the ISI campus

director of the

University of

Denver area.

The annual line dancing party of the Host Family program was held Jan.

19 at the University Park Church, 2180 S. University Blvd., with

approximately 50 program volunteers and DU international students

and scholars attending.

Just like the line

dancing party, the

Host Family

program not only

has the Airport

Pickup and the

Friendship Partner

program, but also

has a number of

activities

throughout the

year.

Among these

programs are like

bible study, hikes and

holiday celebrations.

ISI, as a national

Christian friendship

organization, will

celebrate its 60th

anniversary this year.