International Friends

International Friends has lots of exciting welcome activities happening, we can’t wait to see you there!  And don’t forget to find us at Fallfest (Sunday, Aug 22).  Check the website often for updates, or better yet, email UNCinternationalfriends@gmail.com and ask to be added to the listserv!

Ice Cream Social Wed. Aug. 25th, 4-6pm, Battle House

Join us for free ice cream and a meet-and-greet with other international students and Americans. A great way to hear about other events International Friends has to offer and start the school year off with some fun! The Battle House is located near the intersection of Country Club Rd and Battle Ln, near the Forest Theatre and the Kenan Quad dormitories. It is a big white house with big front yard. See map here.

Beach Trip Sat. Aug 28th, 8am-9pm, Wrightsville Beach, NC

Join us for a day at one of North Carolina’s beautiful beaches. We will provide transportation and meet at 8am  in front of Carmichael Dormitory, across from Kenan Stadium, and we will return around 9:00 pm.  The cost for the trip is $30 to cover the cost of rental vans and gas.  Pack a lunch to bring to the beach (and lots of water!), and bring money to get dinner on the way home ($5-$10).  And don’t forget a beach towl, swimsuit, and change of clothes.  Space in the vans is limited, so register early. Contact us for more information or to sign up at UNCinternationalfriends@gmail.com.  Because of limited space, this event is open only to current UNC students/scholars (and their spouses), but no young children.  Sorry!  This trip is full and now has a waitlist.

Amazing Race Scavenger Hunt Wed. Sept. 1st,  5-7pm, Battle House

Team up with other international and American students in a race you will always remember. Discover UNC’s campus while competing for fun prizes in this photo scavenger hunt. This is a great way to make new friends and get to know the local area!  Email UNCinternationalfriends@gmail.com to sign up.  Meet at the Battle House (See map here) at 5pm sharp–don’t be late or you’ll miss the race!

Friday Night Dinner Fri. Sept 10th, 6-8:30pm, School of Public Health Atrium (Hooker Building)

Join us for the semester’s first Friday night dinner for a free dinner and American culture seminar. After dinner discuss topics such as “How to Relate to American Professors,” “How to Make Friends with Americans,”  and other practical tips on succeeding during your studies in America.  A great place to make new friends!  The Michael Hooker Research Building is located near the Health Science Library  on South Columbia St.  See it on a map here.

Hi there friends!  You may have heard that Sunday, April 4 is Easter.  Easter is a major holiday in America.  You may have heard about common traditions, like Easter egg hunts (children search for hidden plastic eggs that are filled with candy), Chocolate bunnies to eat, the Easter bunny (a mythical bunny that visits children on Easter day and leaves them baskets full of candy), etc.  Easter is always a festive time of year, and we would like to invite you to celebrate with us!

International Friends is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 3rd, at 3pm at the Battle House on campus (big white house on Battle Ln,click here for directions).  We will begin with the egg hunt where you can race to find hidden eggs filled with candy.  Then we will have some delicious snacks and watch a short foreign film together.  This 20-minute Croatian film helps to explain the true meaning of the Easter holiday (the death and resurrection of Jesus), and we will explain the origins of why we celebrate this day.  We hope you can join us, this will be a great time to make friends, have fun, and enjoy this beautiful spring weather!  Families and children are welcome!

What else do people do for Easter, you might wonder?  The Friday before Easter is called Good Friday.  This is the day that Christians remember the death of Jesus on the cross.  Easter (3 days later) is the day that Christians celebrate Jesus’ raising from the dead.  Christians will celebrate by going to a special church service on Sunday that is usually very joyful, festive, and a time of celebration.  If you have ever wanted to visit an American church service, this is one of the most popular times to do that.  International Friends would love to invite you to experience an American church service with us, so if you are interested, we can provide that opportunity for you. Just email Kate.Hagborg@gmail.com to set that up.

We have two fun events coming up this weekend.

This Friday, March 19, we will have a Free Dinner for international students and scholars from 6:30- 8:30pm in the School of Public Health (Hooker building, across from the Health Science Library).  After the dinner we will have a game night with fun group games, so come join us!  This is a great time to relax and meet new people, both international and American.

This Saturday, March 20, there will be an International Coffeehouse at the Battle House (directions) on campus from 3-5pm. Come hear live music, drink coffee, eat yummy snacks, and meet new friends!  There will be musical performances, including pop songs from Korea, America, India, and more, and an open mic if you’d like to perform!  Not to mention delicious coffee and cake.  Bring your friends!  Hope to see you there!

Have you ever wondered “Why am I here?” or “Where am I going in life?” We have all asked these questions at one point or another. This is part of what it means to be human—finding meaning in life.  If you have asked these questions, then this retreat is for you!  We will look to the Bible to see the answers God gives us for why He made us, what the purpose of our lives is, and how we can live them in a way that really matters.

This retreat is designed for those who are investigating Christianity and for Christians who want to go deeper and really ask God, “What are Your plans for my life?”

International Students from Duke and NC State will join us, so this is a great chance to meet new friends!  The retreat will be held at Camp Royall, about 30 minutes away from here on Mar 5-6.  It is a beautiful retreat center with cabins that have bunk beds and heating, where we will be sleeping.  We will leave Friday late afternoon and return Saturday after dinner.  The cost is $30 and includes all your meals except for dinner on the road on Friday night.  To register or for more information email Kate.Hagborg@gmail.com.

Click here to view the retreat brochure–including the schedule, more info about the topics, registration form, and the fun things you can participate in if you come!

Howdy there!  Lots going on this weekend!

First, Friday, 19th: Friday Night Dinner. Come and share a free meal with us, and then stay for FREE SHAG DANCE LESSONS, so much fun!  To see a video of shag dancing (the state dance of North and South Carolina, similar to swing dancing) watch this youtube video!  6pm in the School of Public Health Atrium (Hooker Building.)

Then, on Saturday, Feb 20th, 2pm: Traditional American Wedding. Come and experience a traditional Christian American wedding and stay for a reception (the party after the wedding)! This is not a real wedding, but we will be enacting one for you and explaining wedding customs and the spiritual symbolism of a typical American wedding. Afterwards we will enjoy wedding cake and snacks and music together!  This event will be held at the Chapel of the Cross (the church on the corner of Franklin and Hillsborough Street right between the Arboretum and the Planetarium.  Map here.).  Parking may be available in the Planetarium parking lot directly beside the church, or if not, there are some parallel spots on the street and spots on campus.  For more info email katelyn.m.dougherty@gmail.com.

DUE TO WEATHER CONCERNS, THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FOR FRIDAY, FEB 5 AT 7PM IN THE HOOKER BUILDING.  Hope to see you then!

In modern academia, there is the idea that science and religious faith cannot exist together, but is that true? Is it logical for scientists to believe in a God who created the universe? Is it possible that a belief in God can actually strengthen one’s scientific understanding of the world?

Join us on Friday, FEB 5, 7:00-8:30pm in the School of Public Health Atrium (Hooker Building) for a panel discussion in which three respected professionals (a university professor, an engineer, and a physicist) will share how their belief in God is compatible with their pursuits in science. The discussion will include a time of Q & A. Refreshments will follow.  Come out and bring your friends and your questions!  All international students and scholars are welcome!

This message is for all the ladies out there…  sorry boys!  :)

We want to invite you to a very special first ever Women’s Christmas Tea!

This will be a very special afternoon.  We will get to experience an English-style tea, have lots of yummy snacks and treats, hear some beautiful music, and much more! This will be a great way to get to know new American friends and other international women!  We hope you can join us!

When: Sat, Dec 12, 1:30pm

Where: The Battle House (big white house at 203 Battle Lane on campus near the Forest Theater, see linked google maps).

Who: All of you!  But you must RSVP to come!  Email Kate.Hagborg@gmail.com by Wed. Dec. 9 to sign up to attend.

We would like to invite you to a FREE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT DINNER, Friday, Dec. 4th at 6pm in the School of Public Health Atrium (the Hooker Building). This dinner is for any international graduate student, Ph. D. student, post doc, visiting scholar, etc.

We will serve a barbeque chicken, greenbeans and roasted potatoes meal.  Then we will have a short presentation of the spiritual and cultural origin of the Christmas holiday. Then we will have a gingerbread-house building competition! This will be our last Friday night event of the semester, so come out and join us for some Christmas fun

Come with us!  See the information in the post below for more details.

Join us for an amazing 5-day Christian conference in New Brunswick, NJ over winter break!  An experience – like no other – for international students studying in America. Whether you are a Christian or someone who is seeking to understand the teachings of Jesus, this is the place for you. You won’t believe how much you will learn and how much fun you will have.

There will be something for everyone at Vision 09! Each day we will gather together as an entire conference for encouragement and content. We will also split into “Tracks” that are organized by people groups. Read the descriptions on the website of each “Track” to determine which one is designed just for you.

Our location is the Hyatt Regency New Brunswick located at 2 Albany Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901.

We will also get to experience New York – You will get to see the sights and sounds of one of the greatest cities in the world as we travel together on a day of touring designed to allow you to see some of the famous locations in the Big Apple.

Experience a great New Year’s Eve Talent Show celebration with all your friends!

Conference price of $269 (when living four to a room) includes registration, housing, all breakfasts, two lunches and two dinners. First 325 to register receive $100 scholarship so you can attend for $169 (not including transportation) Discount is still available, but register soon before they are gone! We have scholarship money available for anyone who is interested in learning more about God but cannot afford the cost.  Please email Kate.Hagborg@gmail.com for a scholarship application.

We will be taking a bus from UNC to New Jersey with other students from NC State, Duke, UNCG and Charleston.  The cost for transportation is only $55.  This will be a great way to make some new friends from the Triangle!

Register here: http://bridgesinternational.com/conferences/vision09_newyork/

Any questions?  Email Kate.Hagborg@gmail.com for more info.