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If you are ready to sign up to become friends with a local family or individual, to receive free furniture, or for any of the other services we offer, click the link below and fill out the form. If you are not yet ready to register, please read on to learn more about how IFC can support you during your time at Kent State.
For more than 25 years, International Friendship Connection (IFC) has connected international students at Kent State University with local families and individuals who provide a warm welcome, friendship, and helpful care. Your new friend(s) can help you get free furniture, take you shopping for groceries and clothing, and invite you to their home for meals or to enjoy typical local activities with them. They can teach you about local customs, help you understand idioms and other language challenges, and explain some of the norms of living in this country. We know you are a busy student, so your friend(s) will communicate with you to find the best ways and times to stay in contact as you get to know each other. Our hope is that you will be able to get together in person with your friend(s) at least once a month.
Having a local friend when you are far from home can make your time at KSU more enjoyable and meaningful. Here is what some IFC students have told us about their experiences with local families:
Undergraduate Student, Cameroon
"I was 17 years old when I came to Kent State. My mother always told me I have to make sure I find the right crowd to hang around with. My American family has been there for me through everything -- I can talk with them about anything!"
Graduate Student, India
"My American family and I celebrated festivals together, like Christmas; we enjoyed each other's food; I also met other members of their family, and they all showed me a lot of love."
Graduate Student, China
"I was alone in a totally different and new country for me. I really hoped somebody could help me with everything, and that's why I really wanted somebody like a local friend. And my American family really helped me!"
If you are an international student at KSU and would like IFC to connect you with a local family or individual, click the registration link below, and let us know how we can help you by filling out the brief form that opens. Please select only the options that interest you. After you fill out the form, you can still choose whether or not you would like to submit it. (Your information will not be shared until you click "Submit" at the bottom of the form.)
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