Welcoming International Students
A significant amount of the United States' visitors come to the country in the form of international students. Many are greeted with warm welcomes and hands extended in friendship. During the duration of their stay, these students may experience a variety of reactions from citizens; some good and some bad. Given the poor political relations between the United States and other nations, primarily in the Middle East, students studying in the United States from a Muslim-majority nation may face some negative reactions.
This also occurred during WWII and afterwards in the United States. The anti-Japanese and German sentiment was very prevalent. Realizing that most citizens opinions and beliefs did not reflect those of their governments, professors at the University of Washington wanted to make some kind of difference. They, along with others from the Seattle area, created the Foundation for International Understanding Through Students (FIUTS), based on the Universtiy of Washington campus. Connecting students from other cultures and backgrounds, dialogue was ignited and friendships formed between American students and citizens and students from other nations.
To read more about this story and how FIUTS has made a difference since 1948, visit our Stories page.
Posted Tuesday, August 3, 2010