MINJU KIM
Special to The Leader
“My first contact with an international student was this black boy with his turban on at University of Buffalo,” said Harriett Rupp, a lady in a white sweater who will turn 87 this year. She has been working with international students for 30 years now, through Fredonia’s International Student Incorporated program.
On Saturday, Sep. 13, ISI, a Christian organization that reaches out to international students studying in America and helps them in various ways, held its 8th Welcome Picnic at Russell Joy Park for the Fredonia international students. The organization has been active since 1953.
At the picnic, about 10 international students were in attendance, along with their American families who they met through the “Adopt a College Student,” program.
Through ISI’s “Adopt a College Student” program, Rupp has met international students from different countries and has become friends with them.
“One of my adopted students was Kumiko Otsuka from Japan. I had got acquainted with her simply by writing, and she came to spend some time with me and my family for holidays. We became better acquainted. Eventually I was able to go to Japan in 1985. She was a teacher then. She was younger than I am, but we have enjoyed our correspondence for this long and I continue to keep it up. I still write to her,” said Rupp.
ISI is also a non-profit organization that spans over several hundred campuses around the country. Among their 200 staff members is David Larson, a regional director for ISI that helps organize the activities.
“One of the things we do is the ‘Friendship Partner,’” said Larson. “This is our 8th year with the friendship partners through the International Student office at SUNY Fredonia. Basically, the idea is that students can meet American families that can be your friend. About once a month you might do something with the family.”
Aside from the Welcome Picnic, Common Friendship Partner events include a trip to the Amish country and a Thanksgiving dinner, which Larson says is the largest event of the year.
“We have been hosting the event at the Harvest Chapel and it looks like we can do it there again this year,” said Larson. “Around 70 people usually attend the event.”
Suji Park, a senior accounting major at Fredonia, attended the picnic with her American family, Rachel Lewis, a staff pastor at Harvest Chapel.
“Today’s weather is so cold but I made many friends and the food was great. It was a really great time to have conversation with others. I have been family with Rachel for three years. We eat out and hang out whenever we have time. We meet at Harvest Chapel every Sunday. Rachel is pastor at Harvest Chapel so she let me know about Jesus. I didn’t have any religion before I met Rachel. I have come to know Jesus and became a Christian. Sometimes I talk about Korean culture with Rachel. I’m graduating this semester so I will miss Rachel,” says Park.
So how did Harvest Chapel and ISI start coordinating at Fredonia?
“We have been working with ISI for about three or four years since Bethany Pulice connected with the International Student office at Fredonia. She was on staff at Harvest Chapel at that time so we have been able to connect with the international students, especially with the Thanksgiving celebration that we hosted at Harvest Chapel. We have been able to embrace students through ISI sponsored activities. It’s great to have such diversity because Fredonia is not a real diverse community, but to have Fredonia be right around the corner from us and be able to connect people all over the world — it’s a great blessing to us and we try to a blessing to them, too. We hope that they feel Fredonia at home,” said Lewis.
When faced with a non-Christian international student, Harvest Chapel volunteers say they surround them with love.
“We believe that our primary purpose is to love all people. God does the rest of the work. We don’t try to project our beliefs on to other people but just share with others what Jesus has been on our own lives and just be a testimony of what that love looks like. It’s all very positive in terms of that,” said Lewis.
With the help from the community and the church in Fredonia, international students say they are finding the campus a more comfortable place to settle in.
“Rachel is my amazing friend and family. I’m happy to meet and have known her about three years,” said Park. “I love you, Rachel.”