Friendship Family Program

The Friendship Family program at Lewis & Clark matches AES students with Americans for fun, friendship, and wider cultural understanding. Students learn more about American culture and gain new perspectives on their own way of life. They experience how families live in the USA, have a chance to get off campus and meet people of other age groups. The Americans involved get a chance to learn more about similarities and differences in customs and traditions, be an ambassador for Portland, and maybe get a chance to practice a few words in another language!

What do the Americans and international students do together?

Portland offers a huge choice of things to do--many activities are free or very inexpensive. For example:

• go for a hike;
• check out a DVD from the library;
• participate in a volunteer activity together;
• make popcorn or brownies at home;
• watch a child's sports event or school play;
• have dinner at home or a picnic in the park;
• take a short day trip to the beach or the mountains;
• shop at the farmer's market;
• take advantage of the sports and cultural activities at Lewis & Clark.

The Friendship Family program is:

• not a homestay--most students live on campus in a residence hall.
• not very time-consuming--students and families get together when they both have free time; usually once or twice a month.
• not required--students do not have take part in the program, especially if they spend free time with friends or relatives in the Portland area. But this program gives international students a chance to find out how Americans really live (not as they are shown on TV or in the movies)!

How Can I Sign Up for the Friendship Family Program?

Students are given a form to fill out during their first few days at Lewis & Clark. On it they list information about themselves and what they like to do. Then they are introduced to an individual or family with similar interests during the first few weeks of the semester.

If you are an American single or couple (with or without children) in the Portland area, please let us know if you are interested in particpating. We always welcome more!

For more information, please contact:

Susan Wynne,

Friendship Family Coordinator

0615 SW Palatine Hill Road, MSC 125

Portland, OR 97219

phone: (503) 768-7310

fax: (503) 768-7320

email: aes@lclark.edu