Moving to a new country can be both exciting and terrifying. But for a group of first-year international graduate students, the transition was made a little easier by an Illinois State University administrator and his family.
Associate Vice President for Technology Solutions Charles “Charley” Edamala, his wife, Preethy, their daughter, Fré, and Preethy’s father, Dr. M.M. Ninan, welcomed Mohammad Al Mokbil (Syria), Tanisha Bhimwal (India), Shivani Batra (India), and Sharanya Paul (India) into their Bloomington home, where the students lived for 19 days last summer until they could move into their apartment for the school year.
The Edamalas can relate to the challenges facing international students because Charley and Preethy are both immigrants from India who attended college in the U.S. Charley credited Preethy for making their guests feel at home.
“She’s always very welcoming to all, a trait she got from her mother,” he said.
Although the students still faced culture shock, jet lag, and homesickness, they made memories and learned valuable lessons during their stay with the Edamalas.
Lessons learned
This summer was a learning experience for both the Edamalas and the group of international students. They experienced the power of meeting new people from different backgrounds, and in this case, inviting them into their home.
“Once you invite someone into your space, all the barriers start breaking down. Now, we have formed lifelong friends,” Charley said.
The Edamalas took the opportunity to share advice with the students about transitioning to campus and life in America. Their guidance ranged from how to safely socialize at a college party to what to wear when the weather gets cold.
“I explained to Charley and Preethy how it was very difficult, considering we had left our parents behind,” Batra said. “Then, some of those fears went away when they sat us down and actively listened to our stories and took the time to get to know us all. So, they made us comfortable in about an hour.”
Above all, Charley said their time together fostered deep and meaningful connections.
“Doing something like this creates belonging,” Edamala said. “It doesn’t matter what your background is, we’re all searching for a sense of belonging.”
A home away from home
Although their time together was relatively short, there were plenty of memorable moments.
Mohammad Al Mokbil is a first year Ph.D. student. He enjoyed eating primarily Indian food during his time at the Edamalas’ house. But he said he appreciated when Preethy drove him to an international market in Peoria so he could cook a traditional Syrian dish for the family to enjoy.
“At Charley’s house, it was my first time eating traditional Indian food,” Al Mokbil said. “So, I cooked food from my country for them to try.”
Cooking and sharing food proved to be a bonding experience for everyone at the Edamala house. When the students settled into their own apartment, they used their first paychecks to pay for the ingredients to make the Edamalas a giant dinner as a way of saying “thank you” for their stay.
“It’s a deep tradition in Indian culture, and it happened in my own family,” Edamala said. “The first salary that you get or the first paycheck that you get is very important. You’re supposed to give a present to your dad or your family with that first paycheck. That’s a big deal.”
Each student prepared a traditional dish from their home countries.
“Charley and Preethy did a huge favor for us. So, we wanted to give something back,” Al Mokbil said.
Other memorable moments included playing board games, going to church, and dancing to Bollywood music.
The Edamalas remain in contact with the students. They say the Edamalas are a major source of support during their transition to graduate school in the U.S.
Office of International Engagement support
Dr. Roopa Rawjee, the executive director of the Office of International Engagement (OIE), said her office provides opportunities for faculty and staff to interact with international students through events such as the annual Welcome Dinner, open to faculty and staff, during International Student Orientation.
“Additional OIE programs that foster learning about different cultures and customs include the OIE Thanksgiving Celebration, which will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 16, in the OIE lobby on the second floor of Fell Hall,” Rawjee said. “This event will give attendees an opportunity to hear about Native American perspectives and how Thanksgiving holidays are celebrated in other countries and cultures.”
Faculty and staff interested in attending the OIE Thanksgiving Celebration should email Emmy Buonomo to RSVP.
Rawjee also credited University Housing Services for holding 80 spots in the Fell-School Street Apartments for international students with no penalties if they had to cancel their contract due to visa issues.
Although Al Mokbil, Bhimwal, Batra, and Paul have settled into campus life, they are grateful for their home away from home with the Edamalas.
“It’s like we’re a big family now,” Batra said. “Even our WhatsApp group is named ‘family’ for them.
“It’s like I gained a second mother and father here. It’s a great thing for me, because I left my mother and father, but I found a family here. It is like only God can do that—send these beautiful people to us.”
