VIDEO: Linking up on Campus

MISSISSIPPI STATE, Miss. (WCBI) –
It can be a difficult decision to attend a school in a foreign country.

There are differences in languages and cultures.

However, the Holmes Cultural Diversity Center at Mississippi State has a program that looks to smooth out the hard transition with the university’s international students.

Linking Internationals in the Community, or LINC, is a program that links American MSU students and Starkville families with international students.

It’s an experience that both ends of the connection can learn from.

For many students at MSU, August 16th marked the first day of classes.

For international students, the day marks what may be their first day in the United States.

LINC at MSU makes their adjustment a smooth one.

“Basically, we’re trying to help those international students to acclimate their student life here and also I want to help them to explore American culture and the Starkville community in general,” said program director, Kei Mamiya.

Going off to school is one thing.

Moving to a new country can be scary.

“They’re not used to the language; they’re not used to the culture of the city, the culture of the south, American football, and so on,” said Assistant Director, John Blue.

LINC matches these families and students together based on common interests.

There are a few scheduled events, but most of the interactions are less organized..

“It’s an organic relationship. That’s how I would actually describe it. You can have lunch with them, go to football games, go to soccer games. There’s just various things you can actually do with the person you’re matched up with,” continued Blue.

“I was able to meet someone from Morocco named Taoufik, and we had coffee back-and-forth a couple of times, and it was just really enlightening to be able to understand his culture more and have him understand American culture and be able to like impact him and have a friend that he can go to if he needed anything,” said LINC mentor, Wesley Moncrief.

With these connections, a college life in the United States can be more enjoyable for international students, just like former student Kei Mamiya.

“You know, it’s not easy for students to just be friends with American students or families here, and that program really made it easy for students including myself to, you know, build a connection and have close friends from here,” said Mamiya.

To be in LINC, families and international students apply online through the Holmes Cultural Diversity Center.

Around 50 international students have been paired this year with their new mentors and families, and they are all meeting for a dinner tomorrow night.