When international student Jeffrey Xue arrived to Ball State, he found it tough to familiarize himself with the environment, the community and American culture.
"It was real lonely," he said.
Now two years into his program, the urban planning major can say he has reaped the benefits of his Friendship Family.
For more than 40 years, the Rinker Center for International Programs has been connecting local families to international students at Ball State.
The Friendship Family program is a program that allows international students to be linked up with a family that shares similar interests and beliefs.
"I really like this kind of relationship," Xue said.
The Friendship Family program has made him feel included on campus by helping him communicate better with people and interact in different activities.
Xue said he thinks the Rinker Center put a lot of effort into connecting him with a family.
"I probably would have had a more difficult start if it wasn't for my family," he said.
He said he shares some of the same values and views as his family, and they continue to help him adjust to the life here.
"We're a really good fit for each other," Xue said about his friendship family.
This year, the Rinker Center received more than 100 applicants from international students for the Friendship Family program.
Trevor Foley, the program coordinator for the Rinker Center, said the center encourages all international students to apply. The center is looking for more families because of the large response from international students.
"We can have as many people apply as long as we have students and families to connect," he said.
Beth Middleton, a member of the Friendship Family for more than three years, got involved in the program when her daughter studied international business at Ball State, and has continued participating in the program.
"It's a very neat program," she said. "I think it's awesome."
The Middleton family said they try to show the international students all the cultures in the United States.
Middleton said she builds strong relationships with her students and keeps in touch with them even after they return home.
"We invite them over for Thanksgiving, take them on road trips, just do things that they wouldn't do in their countries," Middleton said. "We teach them a lot and we learn a lot from them."
For more information on how to get involved with the Friendship Family program or any other programs for international students, contact Trevor Foley in the Rinker Center for International Programs.
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