A Warm Welcome

Lewis & Clark doesn’t just send students all over the world; we also attract students from all over the world. Most of our students come from more than 500 miles away, with about 10 percent coming from another country. Our diverse group of global students includes both international citizens and over 120 Third Culture Kids (TCKs)—students (U.S. and non-U.S. citizens) who have grown up outside their home countries. In recent years, we have had students representing more than 50 countries on campus. And we do our best to make each one feel right at home.

Prachi Jha, a junior from India, felt welcomed immediately. “The International Students and Scholars office assigned me a student mentor before I was even on campus,” recalls Prachi. “It felt like a really welcoming place.”

Once Prachi arrived on campus, the ISS staff continued to help with her transition. “They introduced me to people and encouraged me to get involved,” she says. “I never felt stupid asking them anything—and I asked some pretty stupid questions.”

Although she struggled with so much newness at first, she quickly learned to embrace it. “I’ve done things here that I never would have done back home,” she says. American football games. Krispy Kreme donuts. Snowboarding. “I even tried street luging—it’s like a skateboard that’s big enough for your whole body.”

One event that Prachi looks forward to every year is the International Fair. In her first year, she helped demonstrate Bollywood dancing, a dance style made popular by India’s film industry. The fair was so much fun that the next year she agreed to co-chair the entire event.

Prachi offers this advice to new international students: “Don’t spend all your time with people you already know. Go out, do things, meet people, and make friends. Lewis & Clark is a great place for that.”