By Laura Hoksbergen

Features Editor

Imagine trying to adjust to both college life and an entirely new country and culture all at the same time. The international student body at Calvin does not need to imagine it; they live it every day.

While we are missing our families in other parts of Michigan or in another state, they miss people who are across oceans. Many don't even go home for Christmas, or even during their entire school career.

Why do they come across the ocean? How do they find out about this little bubble of a community? And how do they adjust to life here in Michigan and at Calvin?

``Word of mouth is a powerful thing,'' says Linda Bosch, the international student advisor. ``We have links to several places overseas, like in Nigeria and Ghana.''

Apparently, word of mouth works well. Stella Yakubu, from Nigeria, heard about Calvin from a friend and then did research to complement what she had heard.

Others were simply looking for things that Calvin happens to provide.

``When I was looking for a college, I wanted a school which had a strong academic and religious presence, a school that was not too big and too small and most of all a school which welcomed an international community,'' said Debo Sadare, from Nigeria. ``Calvin was the only school that stood out.''

But getting onto the campus is only the beginning.

``It almost goes without saying that there's always culture shock,'' said Pellagia Muliba, from Zimbabwe.

``It wasn't really difficult adjusting, but I did have little problems here and there,'' said Yakubu. ``It took me a while to like the food and also to feel comfortable in class with other students. I had a big problem with the weather. The first few months of winter were really horrible; I felt like a fish trapped in a deep freezer.''

The International Students Organization, led by Linda Bosch, has helped many students adjust.

``I have had problems adjusting to Calvin,'' said Sergei Vitrenko. ``The only thing that kept me here were international students, who have been more than great to me.''

Things are never easy in a new environment, but the students are making progress.

``The moment I stepped into Calvin I felt welcome right from the international orientation to this very day,'' said Yakubu. ``Thanks to the friends ... and to the professors who have opened their doors to render a helping hand in my academic work, I say thank you.''