The International Student Blog

Summer can be used as a time to recharge your batteries and relax until the next school year comes. Although taking time for yourself is important, when you study abroad you want to make sure you are maximizing your experience. You may accomplish this by traveling, working or taking summer classes. However, the US also […]

Part of being an international student is getting involved with the culture and customs around you. Customs and traditions differ from place to place. However, in the United States you will notice an incredible amount of diversity. Whether it’s the different people or the extreme changes in weather as you fly from New York to […]

May is just around the corner and summer will start before you know it! Whether you’re graduating and already have a job lined up for the summer, or are still trying to figure out what to do during your summer break- if you are going to do any sort of traveling this summer, there are […]

One of the best ways to experience the cultural and individual traditions of the holiday season in the US is to spend it with an American family. If you have been invited to spend Christmas, Hanukkah, etc. with a friend and their family, you may be excited and perhaps a bit apprehensive especially if you’ll […]

You don’t have to be of a particular faith to be festive and celebrate the end of the year holiday season. While many events will center around Christmas this December, they won’t all necessarily have a religious aspect. Many of the activities available are mostly secular or heavily commercialized, but nonetheless enjoyable. For instance, holiday […]

In the US, the month of December is heavily dominated by all things Christmas. While Christmas is a public federal holiday inside the US, mostly affecting paid time off for certain employees, many other celebrations take place during this month. In recent years, there has been a movement to be more inclusive in the general […]

Let’s face it, being a full time international student in the US is exhausting. Along with having the typical work of a student (classes, exams, study groups, projects, pop quizzes, essays, etc) international students also have to balance this with exploring a new culture, making new friends, and trying to adjust to just about everything […]

Halloween, or All Hallows’ Eve, is coming up on October 31st. If you’re not from a country that traditionally celebrates Halloween (or even if you are) then you’ll want to prepare yourself for a lot of fun! People of all ages throughout the US dress up in costumes to celebrate this holiday. A great way […]

One of the greatest ways to become immersed in American culture as an international student is by celebrating traditional American holidays. Holidays like Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Veterans’ Day, and MLK day all celebrate American culture and accomplishments. On the Fourth of July you may see festivities such as fireworks and parades, both […]

The Fourth of July is a national holiday that marks the Continental Congress’s adaptation of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, naming the thirteen colonies an independent nation. Every year on the Fourth of July the US becomes a frenzy of patriotic excitement as citizens celebrate their independence. Since this day happens in a summer […]