Day in the Life: Paola Rivera
International House Program student
Toni Merriss
Issue date: 10/5/06 Section: Features
¿Qué usted sabe sobre estudiantes internacionales? If you do not understand, then obviously, the answer is "not much."
While living in the International House, Paola Rivera, a junior business major, from San Salvador, El Salvador, has both learned quite a bit about others and shared a lot about her home country.
Rivera first came to the United States in 2004 on a Rotary Club scholarship to North Georgia College and State University. After only a year she transferred to JSU on the International House Program, a scholarship program offered to selected international students. The scholarship pays tuition, dorm room, meals and insurance. "Although, many people do not know it, it is not only international students that live in the house, half of the people living there are Americans," Rivera said. Although the american students are not eligible for the same scholarship, many are selected on faculty or leadership scholarships.
Since there are only 40 people living in the house there is a much more intimate atmosphere. "We are like a family here. You can count on everyone and there is always someone to hang out with. I think that is why some people call us 'the house that never sleeps'," Rivera said laughingly.
The International House offers many educational programs not only for their residents and other students, but also the entire Jacksonville community. This month on October 22 they are featuring United Nations Day Tea, where everyone dresses in their traditional native costume and reads poems, sings, or dances. There is also free food offered.
Every Wednesday night, at 9 p.m., a different international student is featured and is responsible for a presentation on his or her country. This is a time when each student can share pictures, history, and general information about their home and it just so happens that this coming Wednesday (October 11) it is Paola's turn.
El Salvador is a small country by most standards, measuring only 8,123 sq. miles, it can be compared in size to Massachusetts. Connecting to both Guatemala and Honduras, it is the only Central American country to not have a Caribbean coastline. Although it may be the smallest in size, El Salvador boasts a population of 6.9 million people.
While living in the International House, Paola Rivera, a junior business major, from San Salvador, El Salvador, has both learned quite a bit about others and shared a lot about her home country.
Rivera first came to the United States in 2004 on a Rotary Club scholarship to North Georgia College and State University. After only a year she transferred to JSU on the International House Program, a scholarship program offered to selected international students. The scholarship pays tuition, dorm room, meals and insurance. "Although, many people do not know it, it is not only international students that live in the house, half of the people living there are Americans," Rivera said. Although the american students are not eligible for the same scholarship, many are selected on faculty or leadership scholarships.
Since there are only 40 people living in the house there is a much more intimate atmosphere. "We are like a family here. You can count on everyone and there is always someone to hang out with. I think that is why some people call us 'the house that never sleeps'," Rivera said laughingly.
The International House offers many educational programs not only for their residents and other students, but also the entire Jacksonville community. This month on October 22 they are featuring United Nations Day Tea, where everyone dresses in their traditional native costume and reads poems, sings, or dances. There is also free food offered.
Every Wednesday night, at 9 p.m., a different international student is featured and is responsible for a presentation on his or her country. This is a time when each student can share pictures, history, and general information about their home and it just so happens that this coming Wednesday (October 11) it is Paola's turn.
El Salvador is a small country by most standards, measuring only 8,123 sq. miles, it can be compared in size to Massachusetts. Connecting to both Guatemala and Honduras, it is the only Central American country to not have a Caribbean coastline. Although it may be the smallest in size, El Salvador boasts a population of 6.9 million people.
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