Auburn University is home to students from all over the globe, with each student bringing pieces of their culture and diversifying the Auburn community. Reflecting the rich student population, the university offers a myriad of organizations and events tailored to each student’s desires and needs by encouraging connections between students of various backgrounds.
The International Buddy Program is an organization that pairs international and domestic students with the intent of nurturing genuine friendships. The program not only highlights Auburn’s cultural diversity, but exemplifies the university’s desire to make all students feel truly welcome.
At 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 16 in the Melton Student Center Ballroom B, international and domestic students will be placed in personalized groups during the Buddy Reveal, the program’s sole mandatory event. Buddies are matched together by International Buddy Program officers ahead of the Buddy Reveal.
The matching is based on their applications, in which they share their majors, hobbies, fun facts about themselves and personal preferences. Once buddy groups have been introduced, they spend the rest of the evening getting to know each other and learning more about what the International Buddy Program offers.
The main goal of the organization is "To foster meaningful relationships between international students and domestic students," said Savanna DePriest, president of the International Buddy Program.
For any student, the transition into college can be intimidating. International students face the added stress of starting college in a new country and culture, often doing so alone. The International Buddy Program aims to ease this transition for both international and domestic students, providing a unique opportunity for both students to meet other students and share their respective cultures.
"For international students, I know they come over here and they want to meet some students but they don't know how to. That's one thing I've heard from them personally, where they're like it's just hard meeting people, and I get that," DePriest said.
While the bi-annual Buddy Reveal is the only mandatory meeting for the semester, buddies are encouraged to strengthen their relationships and attend other optional events hosted by the International Buddy Program.
In the past, the International Buddy Program has held a Family Feud-inspired event, board game nights and Thanksgiving events. This semester, they are introducing intramural sports through the AU Campus Recreation and Wellness Center. Buddies will have the opportunity to play soccer, given that it is an internationally-recognized sport.
"We're going to do teams so that people can go with their buddies and then meet other buddies too," DePriest said.
Other than International Buddy Program events, it is recommended that buddies meet twice a month outside of the program.
"Since we are so low time commitment, we basically say that it's up to them to meet up and to go to sporting events and to go to other events that Auburn holds. What we do as officers is we send out, once a week, basically every involvement thing that's happening in Auburn: athletics to go to, UPC events to go to," DePriest said.
For Riya Vashisht, a sophomore in software engineering from Nairobi, Kenya, and Carolyn McAlister, a junior in collaborative special education from Birmingham, Alabama, their friendship flourished outside of the International Buddy Program's events.
Vashisht and McAlister both joined the program in hopes of meeting new students and after being paired ahead of their first Buddy Reveal, developed a true friendship.
"We've really gotten to know each other outside of the program. We just hang out a lot. We have pretty much similar friends now, we all just hang out. It's no longer just, like, in a program. We're just friends," McAlister said.
Since their first meeting through the International Buddy Program, McAlister has brought Vashisht to her hometown in Birmingham, Alabama. The pair have been planning a trip to travel together to Vashisht's hometown of Nairobi, Kenya.
Beyond providing them with a genuine friendship, McAlister and Vashisht identified other benefits of joining the International Buddy Program.
"I think it's given me a different perspective on different cultures," McAlister said. "I'm from Alabama. All my friends look like me, act like me, have the same religious beliefs. I think it's been interesting to see other stuff through Riya and the people she knows."
Vashisht shared similar sentiments.
"It opened me up to a different culture and experience and I feel like college has been more fun," Vashisht said.
With only one mandatory meeting and no dues, the International Buddy Program allows domestic and international students to branch out, experience new cultures and establish meaningful relationships with other Auburn students.
"It's a great experience. It was a great experience for me and, if someone's on the fence- it wouldn't hurt to try it. If it doesn't work, there's no harm done. It's worth trying," Vashisht said.
To get involved with the International Buddy Program and their events they host, they can be found on AUInvolve.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
