Category: FFIS Conversation Friend Program
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FFIS Conversation Friends Share Many Wonderful Experiences Together
The FFIS Conversation Friend Program matches local community volunteers with University of Oregon international students for fellowship and friendship. They meet in a public setting and share activities of mutual interest. FFIS Volunteer and Steering Committee member Jean McClain talks about her experience as a Conversation Friend: For our first meeting, Akari, my conversation friend…
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Les and Marian Brod Share Their Experience With The FFIS Conversation Friend Program
Les and Marian Brod have been FFIS Conversation Friend volunteers for many years. In this post they share recent experiences with their Conversation Friend from China: Yunhong Bai, or Marcia as she liked to be called in English, came to the UO as a “courtesy professor” from a university in Beijing. Her purpose here was…
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This Chinese PhD Student Appreciates His FFIS Conversation Friend
The Conversation Friend Program is a unique opportunity for FFIS volunteers to connect with an international student during the student’s first year in Eugene. A student and a volunteer are matched on the basis of shared interests and meet for one hour a week in a public setting. This is what a Chinese student wrote about his experiences…
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A Chinese Student Shares Her Thoughts About FFIS’ Conversation Friend Program
The Conversation Friend Program is a unique opportunity for FFIS volunteers to connect with an international student during the student’s first year in Eugene. A student and a volunteer are matched on the basis of shared interests and meet for one hour a week in a public setting. This is what a Chinese student wrote about her experiences…
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A Conversation About the Conversation Friend Program
Craig Biersdorff and June Brooks are FFIS’ Conversation Friend Coordinators. In this post June shares her insights about the program, how it works, and how local community members can participate. What is the FFIS Conversation Friend Program? The Conversation Friend Program is a unique opportunity for FFIS volunteers to connect with an international student during the student’s first…
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Susie Trant’s Experience as a Conversation Friend Volunteer
FFIS volunteer Susie Trant shares her experience as a Conversation Friend to Juyeon Lee, the South Korean student she is matched with: As a first-time Conversation Friend volunteer, I have been delighted with the connection I’ve made with my “match.” Over these few months, Juyeon Lee and I have met almost every week for various activities: often…
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June Brooks – FFIS Conversation Friend Coordinator
June Brooks serves as our FFIS Conversation Friend Coordinator. She is originally from Ossining, New York, but has lived in Lane County for the past 37+ years. She joined the Steering Committee in 2009 after retiring from a career of teaching special education in Cottage Grove for 23 years. June is married with two grown…
Friendship Foundation for International Students 