International Student Services offers opportunities for students to connect and grow
International Student Services (ISS) is dedicated to helping international students find their place at the University of Arizona. Their goal is to help these students grow as individuals and create meaningful connections with their peers. ISS offers numerous programs, events, and trips designed for international students that are well-attended and enjoyed by students and staff alike. From shopping trips, social events, and field trips, ISS caters to all students to make them feel comfortable and at home.
“Students are here at the U of A for many different reasons, one of them probably being to get their degree. But what can really enrich their experience here is getting to know not just the campus, but the city where they're going to be living for a couple of years,” said International Student Advisor Olivia Adams. “Tucson might be a very different city, or environment from what they're used to. And it has a lot to offer in terms of its natural beauty and its ties to this part of the country and the rich, great cultural heritage. What better way to explore the Southwest than through our trips?”
When coming to Tucson, international students may not be aware of the beautiful landmarks close to their new city. Through these trips, students are able to build meaningful connections with fellow students outside of the classroom. Fostering new relationships can look different for each student, that is why setting up different activities and environments is important.
One of the things that makes all ISS events special is the attendance of Global Ambassadors. “The global ambassadors are a group of students, international and domestic that are selected to help students who just arrived at the University of Arizona,” said Osama Mohammed, former Global Ambassador. “One of the main purposes of the Global Ambassadors is to make you feel like there are people here that want support and help you without anything in return. ”
That is another reason why the Global Ambassadors make such a difference when trying to help students acclimate to their new setting. Global Ambassadors help make every student feel comfortable and welcomed at every activity. Through efforts like these, ISS makes sure that no student is left out and instead creates a welcoming environment for every attendee.
Here are just a few examples of the year-round activities offered to international students:
Shopping Trips
Every month the ISS organizes a trip to the Lee Lee International Supermarket which is located 20 minutes away from the U of A campus. The trip is usually scheduled once a month, at 10 a.m., on Sunday. On these days, students are instructed to meet the Global Ambassadors at the Global Center, where a bus awaits them to take them to the supermarket. At the market, the students are then given some time to browse the store and do some shopping. Lee Lee Supermarket is widely popular and recognized in the city for carrying food, snacks, and ingredients from over 30 regions around the world. So, no matter where a student is from, they are sure to find a piece of home at this location. The whole experience takes around two and a half hours from the moment they leave campus to the moment they return.
Beginning this fall, students will also have the opportunity to visit several new Tucson locations. Alongside the trips to Lee Lee Market, students will get to shop at Trader Joe's, a popular chain of grocery stores in the United States. Additionally, ISS is organizing trips to shop at the Premium Outlets, a shopping center that features a variety of retail stores and food options.
Day Trips
ISS organizes trips all over Arizona. One popular trip is to the Footprint Center Arena to watch the Phoenix Suns play.
Exploring new places is a great way to build connections during a student's time at the University of Arizona. With this in mind, ISS provides multiple opportunities for students to travel during their time on campus. These trips consist of a chosen destination with a ride there and back for all students. Two of the most anticipated trips each year are the day trips to the charming towns of Bisbee and Tombstone. Located around two hours away from the city of Tucson, both towns are famously known for their rich history and vibrant arts scene. Along with the beautiful sights, the trip to Bisbee also includes a tour of a famous mine in the town.
Another very anticipated excursion during the year is the trip to see the Phoenix Suns in their Footprint Center arena. “It’s a very, very popular trip,” said Associate Director at International Student Services Noelle Sallaz. “Basketball is such an international sport and that one sells out very quickly. It's a great chance to see a big city,” said Sallaz.
Seasonal Activities
With the start of every season, ISS develops events and activities for students to engage with one another during festive days. These themed activities are held multiple times throughout the school year. From winter to spring-themed events to pizza parties, ISS creates fun opportunities for students to meet one another.
ISS celebrates the start of a new semester with a pizza party where new and returning international students can get to know each other.
At these gatherings, there is always an engaging activity and a tasty snack to enjoy. The relaxed atmosphere of these events allows participants to mingle and get to know each other without feeling the pressure of making conversation. One example of these types of events is last year’s International Students Valentine’s Crafting event that took place on February 13, which was in collaboration with the UA library. During this activity, students were able to craft rubber stamps and other items to give to their loved ones or even take home for themselves.
Cultural Events
ISS offers students multiple opportunities to celebrate their diversity and cultural differences through their different events throughout the year. One of these events is the International Talent Show where all students are encouraged to perform a talent traditional to their heritage or simply a talent of their choosing. No prior experience is required, it is simply students having fun and showcasing a talent that brings them joy.
Azat, an international student from Kyrgyzstan, performs “Aytchy” in his native language, Kyrgyz, at the International Talent Show.
“When I was back in my country, I performed that song at my prom, and I thought that I would love to perform somewhere else,” said Azat Kuttugaliev, a freshman at UArizona studying computer science, who participated in this past talent show. “I thought that if I had the chance to perform here in the US I would like to do so.”
The most recent talent show took place in April, where 5 students performed and took part in a friendly competition. The performances ranged from Traditional Polish dancing to flute playing and more. After the show, first-place winner Danial Bazmandeh, expressed his feelings towards the experience saying, “ My friend was the one who encouraged me to sign up for this event and I thank him and everybody who heard my Persian songs. I love to think that through my performance I can help many people become aware of Persian music and its culture.
Friday@Global
Once a month, on Friday, ISS organizes a casual gathering for students to meet one another and mingle in a relaxing and stress-free way. These Friday activities range from crafts to game night, all with the goal of creating meaningful connections. Students are encouraged to come alone or with a friend.
“The purpose of Friday at Global is just to have a very relaxed environment that students can expect. You know, there's going to be something to eat, something to drink some games, or maybe an activity,” said Adams, who organizes the Friday@Global events. “It is mainly to meet new people and create a community gathering place for our international students every month.”
ISS hosts Friday@Global once a month at the Global Center.
This type of routine activity allows students to look forward to a constant event every month. The ultimate goal is for international students to show up and leave with new friends and connections. As always, the Global Ambassadors help facilitate this process and make sure that every student feels comfortable in their time at Friday@Global.
"Every event hosted by ISS is thoughtfully planned out with the ultimate goal always being to create a welcoming environment for international students. You might connect with people in the classroom or you might not, but maybe if you signed up for a trip to the Phoenix Suns, you really enjoy basketball and you'll meet other students who also love the sport. And so maybe you develop a friendship based on that shared interest. So we try to make it pretty easy and connect students with each other,” said Adams. The various activities allow students with different interests to come together and build connections. Fostering relationships may seem daunting in a new environment, so receiving a friendly nudge forward can always make a difference.