Summer* had dreamed of living in the US since she was 14 years old. After years of watching American YouTubers and feeling a quiet connection with the culture, she finally arrived in January 2024 to pursue her master’s degree at Kent State.
It wasn’t her first time in the country, as she had previously taken some trips to the West Coast that had left her charmed: the greenery, the friendly strangers, the generous portion sizes…
But moving here was different.
“What surprised me most was the loneliness I felt,” Summer expressed. “Classmates were warm with me in the moment, but that rarely extended beyond the classroom.”
The turning point came subtly, through a friend. He mentioned he was going hiking, and when she asked who was taking him, he said IFI. Curious, she joined the IFI Kent State group chat, where she finally began building real connections through their events, such as hiking trips, Friday night dinners, and seasonal activities.
“I liked how welcoming they were,” Summer said. “That’s the reason why I kept coming back again and again.”
IFI became more than a social outlet. The Friday dinners gave her something to look forward to each week. When she moved apartments, staff and volunteers showed up to help. A birthday trip to Cedar Point checked a dream off her bucket list. The community she’d been watching and longing for years was finally coming to fruition through IFI.
“Ever since getting in the group, I’ve met so many cool people,” Summer said. “The volunteers and staff are like my family here and have helped me so much.”
Her advice to any international student feeling overwhelmed or isolated?
“Just go to an IFI dinner. Because of how welcoming they are, you’ll want to experience more!”
*Student names and photo changed to protect privacy