By: Michelle King

For more than 20 years, Buffalo State College has eased the transition for international students. As many arrive on campus, Jean Gounard, director of International Student Affairs said common experiences are confusion and loneliness, and trying to adjust to American culture is not easy.              

That’s why the BSC International Student Affairs Office has created a host family program; to provide international students with a home away from home. After the students are paired with families, the activities are then planned by the families.

“A lot of families have a preference; I try to match them up with their backgrounds and interests,” said Iris Wangpataravanich, a graduate student and intern at the International Student Affairs Office. “We have to be sensitive to their needs.”

Host parents Phillip and Sandra Hasselback have found friendships through the program that have lasted more than 20 years. To date, they have had more than 400 international students — all of whom have given their family an appreciation for different cultures.

“I wanted my children to learn about the rest of the world,” said Phillip Hasselback. “To realize how people are basically the same and the importance of people with different cultures, religions and customs. I wanted my children to become citizens of the world.”

One of their former international students is Tanvi Asher, a recent BSC graduate from India. She said she quickly began to feel at home with the Hasselbacks.

“Right from the start they were really supportive. They would pick me up and I would come over to their house for all kinds of events,” she said. “They would have a bunch of (activities). Even if they didn’t have events we would have lunch together. I became good friends with Suzanne (the oldest daughter). We would go shopping.”

Asher said the Hasselback’s youngest daughter was eager to learn about Indian culture and customs.

“I never felt out of place, they have a daughter they adopted from India,” Asher said. “In a lot of ways they thought that they could learn a lot from me. We had a really nice relationship where we both learned from each other. I still talk to them on the phone.”

The Hasselbacks have shown students American customs such as:

For more information about the program, stop by the International Student Affairs Office in the Campbell Student Union, Room 400, or call the office at (716) 878-5331.

Michelle King can be contacted at: kingmk23@mail.buffalostate.edu

Source: The Institute of International Education’s Report on International Educational Exchange Chart by: Michelle King

In Oct. 2004, host students from China, Japan and India shared the Hasselback family’s Halloween traditions. (contributed photo)