Another friend for International students, ‘OU Cousins’

At OU, there is the OU Cousin program for international students. Every year about 900 international students connect with their American friends through this program.

The OU Cousins program was created in 1996. President and Mrs. David Boren created this program with the purpose of developing understanding, and friendship between U.S. students and international students at OU. By this program, students are matched to their “cousin” according to hobbies, majors, and countries of special interest. Each international or exchange student is matched with one American student and they are invited for monthly events. In addition, students can share their respective cultures with one American student through their daily American life.

The Student Life office hosts many events for OU Cousins like the ice cream social Kick-off event, Fall Festival, Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner, and International Holiday Sweets Festival. Student Life office hosts not only big events, but they also make some time for daily life to cook together, play pool, go to the mall, and volunteer together. However, OU Cousins spend their own time together, not just for official events. International students and American students often keep in touch with each other to eat together, help with academic problems, and talk about their different cultures.

The Students Life office provides all events free of charge. Even though students cannot make up all of the OU Cousins events every year, the Student Life office tries to prepare for more opportunities of OU Cousins to participate in every event. Because of these kinds of efforts, OU Cousins can become a strong program at OU.

Quy Nguyen, a assistant director of Student Life, is said “OU Cousins program is a strong program for international students and American students. They can share their different cultures and also build a solid relationship beyond the culture.” He also adds that they try to make OU Cousins program be developed to connect with more students.

The OU Cousins BBQ Party will be held April 30 for all OU students. You can participate in this party that is free of charge. In addition, if you want to know more about OU Cousins, American students or international students can apply anytime on online. Your OU Cousin waits for you to be your friend.

Eve of Nations for International Students

Eve of Nations is the special festival for international students. The 39th Annual Eve of Nations was on April 3 at the Lloyd Noble Center. Many international students who are from various countries went to enjoy the party. The dinner table was prepared for invited international students. For the night, most of the students attended to this festival in a suit and dress.

International Advisory Committee (IAC) holds Eve of Nations. This year’s theme of Eve of Nations is Footprints: A Walk Around the World. This theme was selected with the hope that this program would give audiences a new and profound impression in their hearts. IAC hoped that audiences would break stereotypes, and get a new perspective. This festival was the product of the hard work of the twenty-seven international student organizations. Twenty-seven international student organizations showed their traditional dance. However, all performances reinterpreted their traditional culture with modern perspective. In addition, there was the international fashion showcase, so audiences could see various traditional clothes of many countries about fifty countries.

Eve of Nations started thirty-nine years ago. At first, IAC did not think about festivals for connecting with many international students. However, after they felt that there were a lot of international students in OU, they recognized they needed a special festival to make a bond with each other. This festival was not big, but IAC made this festival organized, and more splendid. Currently, they are trying to find many sponsors for this festival.

Sarah Shutts, President of International Advisory Committee said “Eve of Nations is one of the most elegant and spectacular events celebrating the rich cultures of the world that can be found in the state of Oklahoma. If is a reflection of the cooperation of our international students and our American students at OU.” She also added that many different perspectives, thoughts, and ideas went into the creation of the magical evening.

IAC hosts Eve of Nations every spring semester. Even Though Eve of Nations has ended, IAC hosts other events like International Awareness, and International Bazaar. So if you want to join other events, you can do without any complicated progress. You can get more information about other international events on the IAC website.

Korean night on March 26

Korean night was on March 26. Many Koreans and other foreigners went to the Union to see the performances.

During Korean Night, there were many performances that introduce a Korean culture to OU students. Throughout the night, the Korean kids played traditional music instruments like the ‘Sogo’, and ‘Samulnori’ which are Korean traditional percussion quartet. In addition, other Korean girls performed the Korean traditional sword and fan dance. Those who performed were wearing Korean traditional clothes, and many foreigners admired the gorgeous colors of their clothing. The audience also saw a great performance of Taekwondo.

The first annual Korean night took place in 1999, and now Korean night is held every year. Even though Korean Students Association hosts this event, many other Koreans that live in Norman or OKC contribute by donating or performing their talents.

Jieun Han, Korean Students Association director said, “Korean night is so important to us because many Korean exchange students can meet each other, and we can introduce our culture to many foreigner friends. Through this party, many Koreans can remind of our culture in America, and this feeling makes them feel a sense of belonging.”


Korean night is held every March. If you want to receive some notices about Korean party by e-mail, you can join Korean Students Association. On the webpage, you can see some performances about Taekwondo.

Another family in America, Host Family

At OU, there is a program called Host Family in which OU’s incoming exchange students are connected with an American family. OU’s many exchange students make another family, who not only help them to adjust in America life, but also provides them with experience to learn America culture.

The official name of Host Family is ‘Friends to International Students’, but the former name is more famous. In this semester, 92 host families are with their host children, and 52 exchange students applied for this program. A host family can have a student or 5 students who are from different countries. Between host sisters or brothers, closed relationships are made and are as a basis for international relationships. Last semester, 209 exchange students applied for this program and had their host family. Host families try to give their students a great chance to experience America culture like going to a farm and riding a horse or being invited and eating dinner together.

Education Abroad holds the first orientation about this program every semester, and receives applications from all exchange students who participate in this orientation. After that, Host Family can select their students considering the students’ interests or countries. EA gives a host family some information about school activities to provide meeting opportunities between host family and students. However, many host families usually meet their students one day every week and do many activities together. This program makes many exchange students receive a richer experience in America, and feel strong belonging.

This program started 5 years ago. At first, a few exchange students wanted to make a connection with an American family. However, after 2 years, 200 students applied for this program per year. One year later, 250 students made relationships with many American families who live in Norman or Oklahoma City. Nowadays EA tries to improve this program through more students’ participation.

Diana Tiffany, a staff assistant of Education Abroad and International Student Services said, “This program has the purpose of building closed relationships between international students and American family and keeping their connection after students go back to their country.” She also said that exchange students receive nice opportunities to improve their English abilities and meet people who become a great supporter overall while they are in America.

The orientation about host family is held every January and September. However, if you want to make another family in America, you can do this anytime by connecting with EA. After connecting with them, they try to find a great host family who will support your American life. You can find more information about host family on the Education Abroad webpage.

Sunny's American Life

Welcome to Salsa Dance class

Every Thursday, there is a Salsa Dance class that is loved from many OU students on the 2nd floor of the Memorial Union. About one hundred students from various countries have had fun learning basic steps of salsa for 2 hours.

The Latin Dance Club, one of student associations at OU, hosts this class every Thursday. About one hundred students are in this class this semester, and every week new students have registered to take this class. The Salsa Dance class teaches you to dance salsa and some kinds of Latin dances. Students who take this dance class not only learn to dance salsa but they also have some performances a few months later. The class separates into two parts. The first hour students train by themselves, and the second hour students can practice with their partners.

The Latin Dance club is so famous that they are often invited from other festivals and celebrations. The Latin Dance Club made this class for the purpose of getting OU students’ attention about Latin Culture. This class provides their students with the chance to experience various Latin Cultures like music, dance, and celebration. In addition, students can experience various cultures because this class consists of students from many other countries.

Maritza Rodriguez, the dance teacher in the Latin Dance Club, said “We want many OU students to have more interest with Latin Culture. Although many students already like salsa dancing and Latin music, they hardly have opportunities to enjoy this culture.” Maritza said that many students could make other friends who enjoy Latin dancing together and understand their culture more. She added words that they hoped their students feel salsa dancing is easy to enjoy through this class.

If you are an OU student, anytime you can participate in this class. You have to pay a deposit of twenty dollars when you registered for this class at first. However, after you finished all the sessions without missing one, your twenty dollars will be given back to you. If you want some more information about Salsa Dance class, you can visit this class on Thursday. The Latin Dance Club is waiting for you!