Blog Posts for Students

Honest tips and insights into thriving as an International student

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Creating Home Away from Home: Living in an International Community
April 1, 2026

When Simon* moved from South Asia to the U.S. in the summer of 2022, he expected academic challenges. What he didn’t expect was how much living in a cross-cultural community would shape him.

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The Story Behind Halloween
The Story Behind Halloween
October 17, 2025
If you’ve spent any time in the U.S. during the fall season, particularly in October, you’ve probably noticed some unique decor and spooky themes– pumpkins, spider webs, costumes, candy, etc. Most Americans love celebrating Halloween, but where did this holiday actually come from, and what does it mean? Let’s take a look at the story Read more…
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What I Wish I Knew Before Coming to the U.S.
What I Wish I Knew Before Coming to the U.S.
July 1, 2025
Hello again! It’s your Japanese-Brazilian guest author, Jodie! 😁 What an honor it is to be back and have the chance to share some thoughts on my journey as an international student in the U.S. Many of these reflections might sound familiar, but I wanted to share how I experienced some of the more “obvious” Read more…
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Podcast Episodes

Check out our podcast The World at Home to hear real stories of International students finding community

Podcast
37
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The World at Home Ep 4: Facing Uncertainty

Episode 4 of The World at Home Podcast, features Bhavana, an international student from India, who opens up about the emotional ups and downs of pursuing education in a foreign country — especially when the future feels unclear. How do you face uncertainty???

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The World at Home Ep 5: Building Community

In this episode, we meet with Samuel, an international student from India, at his house in Cleveland, Ohio to talk about Community! Make yourself some chai and join us on the couch!

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Podcast
42
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The World at Home S2. Ep 1: About Us

Have you ever wondered why we serve international students here at IFI? Or who the faces are behind the name, International Friendships Inc? For Season Two of our podcast, we thought we would share a little more about who we are! Let's not be strangers, watch this episode to learn a little more about us :)

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