There’s nothing easy about packing up (almost) everything you own and attending university in a different country. From trying to adjust to a new culture and learning its social norms, to trying to meet new people and create new friendships, becoming an international student can be difficult.
However, Friends Without Borders (FWB), a program hosted by UFV International, is hoping to make the transition easier for international students coming to UFV.
“It’s an intercultural program for both international and domestic students for cross cultural exchange,” explained Anoop Dhaliwal, UFV International’s international student support assistant.
The program runs for roughly 10 weeks each semester, and students have the opportunity to participate either by leading as a mentor, or by attending as a “friend.”
Through events on, and occasionally off, campus, games, and activities, both international and domestic students learn about each other’s cultures and countries while deconstructing the social norms in both.
“We cover tons of different topics,” Dhaliwal said. “It’s an opportunity for students to practice their intercultural communication and skills with each other.”
Topics discussed range from what dating and relationships looks like in different countries, to how to deal with culture shock, to discussions on the LGBT community.
“We talk about sexuality and sexual orientation and how that may differ from what you grew up with or what was considered a relationship in your home country and what that looks like in Canada,” Dhaliwal explained. “Some of the countries that students come from, it’s against the law to engage with homosexuality so we really help students in terms of understanding and deconstructing that.”
FWB also operates as a way for students to meet and interact with each other, and while the activities and games have an educational aspect, they’re also social.
“It’s an opportunity to make friends,” said Dhaliwal. “Studies have shown that students who are engaged in extracurricular activities do well academically.”
Dhaliwal also noted that the skills learned in the program are transferable, both in university and out.
“Many students in this program have gone on to make their own clubs or organizations through SUS,” she said. “They really have an opportunity to build some skills and make connections.”
For third-year business student Uchka Letestu, who is a mentor with FWB, making friends and gaining new skills was a motivating factor to get involved with the program.
“I chose to be a mentor just because every semester there are so many students that come from so many different countries so it’s my opportunity to make new friends and meet more people,” she said. “Friends Without Borders is really interconnected and inclusive and it gives everyone the chance to get to know more about each other, not just where they’re from, but as a person.”
Letestu also noted that the welcoming atmosphere of FWB has made it a highlight of her week.
“School can be so draining and exhausting and joining Friends Without Borders, it becomes the one thing you look forward to,” she said. “It’s so bright, positive, and uplifting — it’s just good energy.”
The bright, positive, and uplifting aspects of FWB that Letestu refers to are partially a result of positive messages, an activity where students write anonymous encouraging notes to each other.
“It gives people a chance to address other people if they haven’t been able to talk to them yet,” she said. “You really get to see that people care, people notice, people learn from you, and that you don’t have to be deeply connected to learn from each other.”
Although FWB has already begun for the semester, interested students can register by emailing Dhaliwal at anoop.dhaliwal@ufv.ca or by applying online at international.ufv.ca/international-student-life/friends-without-borders.
And although the program is hosted by UFV International, Dhaliwal also encourages domestic students to get involved.
“There’s a cross-cultural exchange,” she said. “Students get an opportunity to learn about Canadian culture, but then there’s also an opportunity to see different backgrounds and ideologies.”
