Sharing the gift of Friendship Families - Christmas Flowers Japan

International students celebrate the culture of American holidays with host program

For some Ball State students, heading home for the holidays requires just a few hours in the car. For Miho Awai, a former international student from Japan, the commute from Muncie to home wasn't as easy. Despite campus being empty during the holidays, Awai was able to celebrate the American holiday season through Friendship Family.

"The Friendship Family program has been in place since the ‘60s," Jodi Winger, program coordinator, said. "Since then, it has helped international students broaden their understanding of American culture outside of campus activities and has helped local families understand other cultures."

Nora Nichols has invited 30 students into her home over the past 20 years through the Friendship Family program, including Awai.

Awai said that many international students tend to be lonely, especially when domestic students go home and the campus is empty. For her, the most rewarding parts of the Friendship Family program were getting to experience real life in America as part of a family and having a place she could call home.

"Before this program, I knew what student life in the states was like, but not what American family life was like," she said.

Her host family invited her to spend holidays with them and participate as a member of their family, rather than an outsider merely looking in on the traditions.

"It is hard to explain to Americans how much this experience was worth to me, because they are just celebrating as they usually do, but every single moment was so precious to me — even shopping at the grocery store with my host mother," Awai said.

Even when she traveled to New York for winter break, she came back to Indiana to spend christmas flowers japan with her host family.

"I made the right choice [to come back], that was the happiest Christmas in my life," she said.

But the Friendship Family experience was more than just a merry christmas flowers japan blogs for Awai, she said that her host family changed her outlook on life. They showed her much more than just American traditions; they taught her the value of human relationships.

"It would have been easy for them to think of me as nothing but a stranger, but it wasn't like that. They treated me like their own daughter," Awai said. "Now, when I think of my friendship family, I always keep one Japanese proverb in mind. It means treasure every encounter, for it will never recur."

Awai wasn't the only one who benefitted from the Friendship Family experience; her host mother did, too. Nichols said that she enjoyed offering Awai a family away from home and enriching her own family's life by expanding their horizons.

Awai and Nichols said they urge international and domestic students and families to get involved with the program.

"Don't procrastinate, every minute you delay, you are missing out on life-changing experiences," Nichols said.

Friendship Families is always seeking new hosts.

"When International students come to campus, we offer them to join this program. There is a lot of interest in this program, so we usually have more students interested than families to host them," Winger said.

Domestic participants should expect to be a source of moral support and advice for students, Winger said. There is no financial obligation for either party.

"In the past, friendship families have served as family members to international students," said Trevor Foley, program director for the Rinker Center for International Programs. "Host families have attended their student's graduation and offered advice, just as a family member would."

Host families and students interested in the Friendship Families program should visit cms.bsu.edu/AdmissionsLanding/International/InternationalServices/FriendshipFamily.aspx to fill out the online application.