12C
HOMECOMING
THE UNIVERSITY DARY KANSAN
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2006
A home(coming) away from home
MEGAN O'MALLEY
Mutsa Kajese, Harare, Zimbabwe senior, will complete the University of Kansas' pre-med program this semester, specializing in human biology. Kajese plans to attend medical school in South Africa, with the ultimate goal of establishing free clinics in Zimbabwe, specializino in pediatrics.
Ryan McGeeney/KANSAN
Cornelia Becker presses her snooze twice before getting out of bed. She grabs a quick breakfast, her backpack and Jayhawks sweat-shirt before heading off to her first class.
Cornelia may sound like your typical Kansas student, but she has spent the last 20 years of her life in Mauchenheim, Germany.
Cornelia, a graduate student in biology and English, is just one of many international students who call the University of Kansas home.
In the spirit of Homecoming, it only seems right to look at what home means to Jayhawks from all around the world. Here at the University, Homecoming offers a time of reuniting and reminiscing for Kansas alumni. It also gives current students time to reflect on the transition to their new home in Lawrence. Mentioning home may bring to mind free laundry service being just a short drive away, but for more than 1,500 international students the picture is much different.
Mutsa Kajese, a senior from Harare, Zimbabwe, came from a community-based culture. He has found that the University is one of the few places that has that same feel. Kajese was studying at Baker University, but said he longed for a bigger school with greater opportunities. As a pre-med student, Kajese said he was also enticed by the University's dynamic medical program.
The University's appeal attracts students from all over the globe. The rolling hills of campus, booming culture of downtown and nonstop student activities are enough to fit anyone's fancy. As attractive as the campus may be, adjusting to college culture can be difficult. Add a brand new country to the mix and it can be overwhelming.
acclimate to the Lawrence lifestyle, the Office of International Student and Scholar Services offers a range of services for International Students, including an international student orientation program offered each semester.
To help international students
Viviana Yaluk, ISSS Cultural Program coordinator, helps run a Lawrence Friendship Family program, matching students with local
families to build cultural understanding and adjustment through friendships. Through ISSS, students also get a chance to speak with local schools and University classes about their respective country. Through programs like the ISSS, the University hopes to be the bridge between cultures, allowing international students to feel more at home in Lawrence.
There is no better time to feel right at home and get a feel for Kansas spirit than Homecoming week. As thousands of people unite for the football game, Todor Gogov, a junior from Bulgaria, will think of a different kind of futbol. While he loves the friendly people of Lawrence, he longs for gathering with friends to watch soccer in Bulgaria. Adjusting to American
culture has its challenges, but the welcoming atmosphere of Kansas Homecoming eases the transition.
Homecoming has different meaning for different people. Some use it as a time to reconnect with friends, others to work frantically all night on a float, and still others use it as an excuse to pass out before noon. No matter what your plans are, take some time
to reflect on what KU means to you. Homecoming for alumni has become an international event, uniting Jayhawks from around the globe.
Kansan correspondent writer Megan O'Malley can be contacted at editor@kansan.com.
- Edited by Erick R. Schmidt