GLOBE Buddy Program
 
Are you interested in becoming a buddy for one of Carlson’s international students next semester? Are you thinking about studying abroad and looking for insider information? Have you studied abroad and are looking for a way to reconnect? Maybe you like learning about other cultures and are interested in meeting someone new. If so, then the GLOBE Buddy Program may be for you.
 
GLOBE is currently looking for Carlson undergraduate/graduate students that are interested in becoming buddies for the fall semester 2009 exchange students. We have exchange students coming from Austria, Belgium, China (Beijing, Hong Kong, Taiwan), Denmark, England, France (Bordeaux, Lyon, Paris), Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Thailand next semester.  The exchange students will be arriving in August sometime before orientation. Therefore, we are looking for students that will be available at the end of the summer BEFORE classes start.
 
As many of you may know, arriving in a new country is both exciting and stressful, so it is really nice to have someone around who can help you out and answer all of your questions in the beginning. This is why GLOBE recommends that buddies:
 
  • Email their exchange students and answer their questions before arrival
  • Pick them up from the airport
  • Take them to the grocery store/Target/Ikea/etc. during their first week (Students may not have bedding, a shower curtain, towels, kitchenware, food, or personal care items upon arrival. Any way you could help them out would be greatly appreciated.)
  • Show them around their new home and give them suggestions of things to do and see (Ex: State Fair, Twins game, Mall of America, etc.)
  • Help them get a cell phone/tell them where they can get one if needed (Ex: Many exchange students currently use T-mobile)
  • Take them out with you and your friends (It’s a fun way for them to meet Americans and will be a great way for you to spend time together.)
 
GLOBE is also looking into having a “Buddy Event” right before school starts, so that all of the exchange students and their buddies can meet each other. More details about this event will come later this summer.
 
If you are interested please email globe.umn@gmail.com with your name, age, sex, preferred email, and a few countries that are of interest to you. Please rank the countries in order of importance with #1 being the country of most interest. 
 
It may be a couple of months before you find out who your buddy is because the list of incoming exchange students is still being finalized. At this time we would like to find out who is interested in becoming a buddy before the summer starts.
 
Thank you for your help and support,
 
GLOBE Executive Board
globe.umn@gmail.com