University Daily Kansan, December 9.1980
Page 21
Some won't go home for holiday
By JANETTE HESS
Copy Editor
Copy Editor
Thousands of miles—and hundreds of dollars—separate many of the University of Kansas' international students from their homes. Many of the students say they won't be going home for the holidays because a three-week break doesn't justify spending more than $1,000 for a round-trip plane ticket home.
More than 1,600 international students representing 93 countries attend KU.
Krupadanam Billa, India graduate student and professor of the International Club, said he wouldn't be going home because a round-trip ticket would cost $1.300.
"A lot of international students can't afford to go home," he said. "Usually Americans think of them as being rich, but many are from non-Arab countries, and very few are here on government scholarships." About a percent come from middle-income families.
"Sure, we'd like to go home and spend time with you." We missed four Christmas new, and it's been a blessing.
FOR SOME international students, lifting the phone receiver and dialing a number isn't always the next best thing to behre there.
Said Billa, "I can't even make a phone Billa," I have to wait two days and get a call through.
During the holidays, he said, placing a phone call through an overseas operator sometimes takes even longer than two days.
Instead of spending the holidays in Lawn-
bury, Billa said he was planning to attend
a workshop for international students in
Lansing, Mich.
"The majority of international students at KU would like to leave Lawrence and go other places," he said. "Many will visit friends in other parts of the country."
Once some international students get to America, they're here until they graduate.
Pouran Esrafily, Iran senior, said she probably wouldn't be going home until she had finished her studies at KU. That might not be for three and a half more years.
Earifly said that she occasionally talked to her family on the phone, but that her parents were busy with work.
"It costs about $30 to $35 for 10 minutes," she said.
"You just have time to say hello, nothing important," she said.
HSI-CHIN JANET CHU<sup>a</sup>, Taiwan graduate student, agreed that phone calls were helpful.
Chu said that although she wouldn't be going home during the break, she was planning to move out of her room in McColum Hall.
"I think most of my friends will move out of the dorm. Some will go traveling. I'd say half will travel and half will stay in friends' houses."
"I'to too expensive to stay here," she said. "We'll be $160 for 20 days, with nothing to eat."
Chu said she might visit relatives in Oklahoma.
Fred McElhenie, director of residential programs, said the University had to charge each student staying in a hall $8 a day to cover the cost of keeping the hall open. Even then, the hall must house an average of 50 students a day during the
See STUDENTS page 22
Depression
From nage 20
Another KU student said that she usually was depressed before Christmas because of finals. Since becoming a student she has seen the realization that the gifts that she would like, she said.
There are many kinds of depression, Bryant said, including masked depression.
he might look all of them arouse behind a smiling facade, Brady said. "Omaura sure is."
ADM said. ADM said, "The DEPRESSION CAN LEAD to injury if the problem is not caught in time."
Bryant, an associate minister at the Plymouth Congregational Church, has recently completed special training in attending the Meninger Foundation in Topeka.
This is the first year for the workshop, which was held after several Adult Life Resource Center workers developed the idea.
The workshop is sponsored by the Center, section of KU's division of coursework.
The workshop's final session will be
from 7 a.m. on March 15 in the
south Compound at 929 Vermont Ave.
At the workshop's first session Dec. 2, 14 adults participated in discussions about their experiences of loneliness.
There also was a lecture on the experience of loneliness and how to cope with it.
Objectives for the workshop participants are developing a better understanding of the experience of loneliness, being able to admit their own loneliness and knowing how they can be in the community to help others or themselves through a critical episode of loneliness.
Looking For A Gift That Is Just Right? Choose A Crazy Horse Shetland Sweater.
Many Colors To Choose From, Available In 3 Styles Starting At $22.00
Clothes Encounter
in step with your style
Holiday Plaza
843-5335
25th & Iowa