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There are many community organizations and
no two are alike. Some offer short-term loan funds, others
have special holiday hospitality programs, and still others
operate "speakers' bureaus," which arrange visits
by international students to local schools and organizations.
A community group affiliated with your campus may offer training
courses for spouses, language classes, and even a "meet-and-greet"
program for new arrivals. The important point to remember
is that these organizations were formed to help international
students and their families, and they are almost always made
up of volunteers. They want to meet you and your dependents
and assist you in any way they can. If you need any of their
services, do not hesitate to use them. Below are just two
of the many types of programs you can participate in or join.
Host Family Programs
These programs match a U.S. family with an international student
for the purpose of friendship and culture sharing. Many students
believe that host families provide housing, but this is not
usually the case. Rather, the program arranges for students
to visit a family's home for meals, especially during special
occasions such as the Thanksgiving or Christmas holidays.
Sometimes, if the relationship becomes close, a student may
visit his or her host family much more often. Typically, a
host family program offers the opportunity for friendship
with a family and for learning about U.S. family life and
culture, as well as a chance to share your culture with that
family. If your community offers a host family program, you
should certainly consider participating in it.
Clothing Banks
Some community programs organize "clothing banks,"
a collection of used clothing donated by people who want to
assist newcomers to this country. Many of these banks exist
in the northern areas of the United States where the cold
winter climate requires heavy clothing that some international
students may not have when they arrive. Since this type of
clothing can be very expensive, such banks serve a useful
purpose, especially for students with little extra money.
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