RECENT EVENTS!
Welcome Party 2022
"Met with lots of international friends!"
"I love the hospitality of the IFI family!"
"Great job, very kind volunteers."
Welcome Picnic 2022
"Got to meet up with old friends and volunteers!"
"Someone wrote my name for winning a sack race 🙂 I don't know if the final race ever happened though xD"
"The games were fun! I have never actually played Jenga and me and my friends played it for the first time. We had no idea how to play it at first and it was hilarious how clueless we were. But eventually someone taught us and we ended up having a great time playing it :D"
EID Celebration 2022
"It went very well. The host family was amazing. Yes, I had a very good time. Yes, I will participate again."
HOSPITALITY AND FRIENDSHIP!
"My flight was delayed 4 times but she was very cooperative and understanding. I could not have asked for someone better, she was amazing. Kathy was really knowledgeable and warm person who greeted and treated me with great love and care. She knew the routes well and even educated me with Columbus routes and driving ways. To me, they were the perfect hosts. I appreciate all the help they did for me to get me acclimated to this new country and place. I was a little nervous initially when I signed up for the program but I never knew that it was a blessing in disguise. Kathy and Gary were such warm and empathetic hosts that I never felt homesick or uncomfortable at all in their place. They were really really helpful in arranging all the essentials for my apartment and stay, got me acclimated to how things work in the united states, and helped in shifting to the new place as well. I've never met a family and people so giving that it backs up my faith in humanity truly. Kathy is unbelievably a nice being who believes in helping others and has become my go-to person here for any problem and advice I need. I am so thankful to IFI for this great experience!!"
"Nancy and Dan were very open-minded with differences in our cultures and willing to discuss almost anything openly. They also let us ask anything we were curious about the U.S. and American culture in general. As much as they wanted to help us in almost anything, they still gave us opportunities to handle things on our own, such as trying to walk to a bank nearby to open our bank accounts--which turned out to have no banker at the time, so Nancy had to drive us to another bank much farther, and trying to make a purchase for our cell phone and computer at Best Buy. It meant a lot for us as we knew that there was someone we could trust and ask for help, as well as make a trial and error on our own in the first few days in a foreign country where one of my friends and I haven't been to before!"
"It was a pleasant stay and I really appreciate the help provided by IFI and its volunteers. Mr and Mrs. Galdwell have been great hosts; Craig picked me up at the airport late at night (near 1 am) and drove me to several places where I should visit (BMV, Target, School, etc.) during my stay. Mary Beth was also very kind, and cooked me delicious meals. I felt really comfortable at their home and I felt lucky to begin my journey at the house of these generous hosts. I would answer "very very good" to all of the questions that ask for my rating. Again, I am very thankful for the service that IFI, especially my great host family, has provided. Once again, I'd like to thank you and IFI for helping us settle in the U.S. and understand American culture better. I do hope that there will be more international students who will have the same opportunity to feel welcome in an American family and foster a peaceful cross-cultural understanding."
