New Mexico State University hosts more than 1,200 international students yearly, and while the university provides the same basic services for them that it does for its domestic students, international students often face greater challenges adapting to their new institution. Often thousands of miles from home, they must adjust to a new culture as well as a new academic environment.
Among those international students are exchange students, currently numbering 56, who come to NMSU from partner universities in some 30 countries. They typically attend classes for one or two semesters and then return to finish their degrees at their home institutions.
One special challenge for exchange students is acquiring the basic furnishings they need for their stay - without breaking their budgets.
With that in mind, the NMSU Study Abroad Ambassador Organization, a student group that supports initiatives in the Office of International and Border Programs, has marshaled its forces to host By Golly, We've Gone Global!, an evening of entertainment it hopes will generate significant funds for welcome packages for future international exchange students.
The event is from 7-11 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, at the West End Art Depot, 401 N. Mesilla St. in Las Cruces. It will feature a diverse set of international cultural performances, followed by an open dance floor and world music presented by two DJs.
According to Jared Dial, the event's organizer, performances in the first half will include Capoeira, flamenco, Balet Folklorico, belly dancing, a drumming circle and guitar performances.
The second half will feature dance music presented by DJ Amer and DJ Truman. Among the dance tunes will be pieces by artists from the home countries of current exchange students.
Kristian Chervenock, director of Study Abroad, said the welcome packages his office prepares for exchange students contain basic items like bedding, kitchen implements, clothes hangers, toilet paper and a shower curtain. Most of the items are actually on loan from the office and are expected to be returned when the students leave to be passed on to future students.
"We pride ourselves on providing excellent service to each incoming exchange student and have received tremendous feedback from students and our international partner institutions alike," he said. "As the number of exchange students studying at NMSU continues to increase so does the demand for welcome packages. Fundraising events such as this are integral to our efforts to create these packages."
Tickets for this "all-ages" event are $5 and can be purchased at the door.
For more information contact Jared Dial at jdial@nmsu.edu or visit the Facebook event page at https://www.facebook.com/events/437880886261425/?context=create.