Making Connections

Upon your return, you may find that some of the things you enjoyed before going abroad no longer hold the same allure as they once did. The good news is that you are in Boston. This city has one of the largest foreign student populations in the country. As a result, there are many opportunities and places you can enjoy, on campus and around the city that may remind you of your international experience and support your efforts to stay cross-cultural:

Things to do on & off campus:

Join our high school outreach program! One of the barriers to study abroad for college students is a lack of information and role models. High school students, especially under-represented students, are entering college with an outdated paradigm of what a higher education experience should entail. Some freshmen enter college thinking that they will spend all 4 (or 5) years on-campus and work or do an internship during summer vacation. If we can show high school students the benefits of a semester or summer abroad experience at this early stage, we might be able to make a difference in their lives. Our goal is to show them options, to give them resources, and get them excited about going abroad by sharing our stories and photographs.

If you are interested in sharing your experience abroad with local high school students, please contact Dawn Anderson.
Join an on-campus cultural group or sign-up to be a volunteer for OASIS, the International Student & Scholar Institute’s (ISSI) orientation program. ISSI also runs Mentors Across Miles, a program linking new international students with current NU students and the Conversation Peace Program, designed for students to share their experience from both their home country and the U.S. Call 373-2310 for more information. ISSI is located in 206 Ell Hall.
Northeastern offers both a major and a minor in International Affairs. Visit the College of Arts & Sciences for more information.
Take courses with an international flavor. Your knowledge and experience will add considerably to the classroom discussions.
Check out the local museums in the area such as the Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum, the MFA (free with your student ID), and those at Harvard (Fogg, Sackler, Busch-Reisinger).
View foreign films playing at many local theaters such as The Boston Public Library, Kendall Square Cinema, Coolidge Corner Theatre, and the MFA.
Much of the nightlife in Boston has a European flaire. Take advantage of these multicultural hot-spots.
If you learned a new language while abroad, seek out a fellow speaker. Practice over tea or coffee once a week. Make connections at the Boston Language Institute, http://www.bostonlanguage.com/.
Locate international organizations and cultural events in and around Boston. Try http://www.cityofboston.gov, http://www.boston.com, or http://www.globalimmersions.com.
The Media Center, located in the library offers many international newspapers and news programs. The Internet also provides access to international newspapers and radio stations.
Career Services, located in the Stearns Center, offers networking opportunities and career fairs for students interested in international careers.
Go Hostelling!