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For Denica Karadzhova ’07 (Stara Zagora, Bulgaria) and Maria Mitova ’09 (Sofia, Bulgaria), attending Lafayette doesn’t just mean receiving a quality education, it also means being part of a second family.
Both students are involved with the International Student Host Program, which was founded to help integrate international students more fully into the Lafayette community and give them the opportunity to experience American culture in the home of a caring family or individual.
The student and host partnership lasts the entire time the student is at Lafayette. Having a host provides these students with a “home away from home,” and can often make the transition more positive and less intimidating.
“The host parent program helps many students deal with the difficult transition of living in another country. An invitation to join the host family for a home-cooked meal, a ride to a driving test, or just a friendly phone call can provide a significant lift for someone who has left family, country, and culture behind,” says Janine Care Block ’94, international student adviser and career information specialist. “Many international students only get to return home once or twice during their four years of college. Having a host family at Lafayette can make this easier for them.
“The host family also benefits from the relationship, learning about another culture and perspective through the student. Most host parents find this exposure particularly valuable for their children, and it’s not unusual for host parents to ask to host multiple students.”
Karadzhova, an economics and business major, is hosted by Richard Shupp, visiting instructor of foreign languages & literature. Robert VanBlargan, manager of advancement information systems in Development and College Relations, provides Mitova, an international economics and commerce major, with her home away from home.
Shupp believes the hosting experience has been positive for both him and his family.
“My experience with Denica has been wonderful. She has been in several of my classes and has been at our home many times. We have participated together in campus activities, celebrated birthdays as a family, and she has introduced both me and my family to many Bulgarian customs,” he says.
Shupp also hosts Milena Petrova ’07 (Sophia, Bulgaria), an engineering major, and Minza Zahid ’08 (Karachi, Pakistan), who is pursuing a B.S. mechanical engineering and an A.B. with a major in economics and business.
As she begins her fourth year at Lafayette, Karadzhova is overjoyed with her experience with Shupp.
“Professor Shupp has a big family, with children and grandchildren, but his house and his heart have always been open to us [international host students]. He is often the first person I see coming back to the United States and the last person I see before taking off for Bulgaria,” she says. “He has always made me feel at home at Lafayette, in his classroom, in his office, and in his house.”
Mitova remembers the first time she saw her host parent.
“The first time I saw Bob and his big smile, I knew that everything was going to be okay,” she says. “His smile reassured me that even here in the United States I would have a place that I could feel somewhat at home – and his smile was right.”
VanBlargan believes the International Student Host program is beneficial for not only the student, but for the host as well.
“From the student side, I think having someone here to talk to and get away from college for a while is important. The students need to have a place where they can relax and have some ‘family’ time. This seems to be very important on occasions like Family Weekend, when many of the domestic students have family visiting. This allows them the chance to be ‘normal’ students,” he says. “From the hosts’ side, it has allowed us to meet several amazing people from around the world, and allows us to see the U.S. from an outsider’s point-of-view.
“It has also allowed my entire family to become involved in the College community, and given us a chance to learn things, try new foods, and, most importantly, make new friends. After our experiences with the host program, I’d encourage anyone to give it a try.”
Mitova agrees.
“I think it is a great program, and students should be encouraged to keep in touch with their host parents and do more together, not only in terms of help and favors, but also getting to know the country and culture and having someone to help you feel at home and share your experience with,” she says.
Those interested in participating as hosts should contact Block, (610) 330-5546, blockj@lafayette.edu.