USA Welcomes IFYES- 28 total!

So on Friday morning June 14, bright and early, I left with my parents for the airport in Wichita. Flew to Chicago and met up with Annie (also from Kansas), and then we had to figure out how to get to Terminal 5 from the baggage claim. We walked, asked questions, searched for the train, and finally another traveler directed us to the elevator to the train. The fun part then was getting from the main level of Terminal 5 to the baggage claim-you would think this would be easy and all you should have to do is go done a flight of escalators. Not so-it was a little bit more confusing than that but made perfect sense when we finally found an information desk. Anyway, we got there, met Carolyn, and she found our other three international IFYE’s who would be riding the bus with us to Bloomington-Gillian (Scotland, Florian (Germany), and Rachel (Ireland). We talked a little bit off and on for the three two hours we had left in the airport. Then we were on the bus for three hours due to traffic, ugh. Finally we get to Bloomington in time for the get to know you games and to eat a couple pieces of pizza.
On Saturday morning, we had a lot of information about being abroad given to us, visited the Funk Seed Farm, went to a church, and supper at a Chinese Restaurant. I am not related to the Funk Seed Farm, although the guide tried to convince that I am, but if it was even remotely possible-it is so far down the line from me that it would not make a difference. Saturday evening, I got to know one of my roommates-Tone (Norway). Later we went down to meeting room where a movie was playing, but more importantly IFYEs were just hanging out and talking.
 

Sunday was probably my favorite day of the orientation. Again in the morning we had lectures and information, and that all gets very boring after a while, but it is useful information if you haven’t heard it before. For lunch we ate Famous Dave’s BBQ Chicken-yum! Then we went to the university’s garden-which may not sound all that cool-but in reality it gave us all a chance to relax, take random photos, and talk for one last day. I tried my best to rotate around the different groups and get pictures and spend time with all the IFYEs-some I missed but I was able to see a lot of them.  Same thing with the baseball field-not the most exciting thing in the world, but a great time to talk. Lastly we went to Ross’s Dairy Farm, where they make cheese, and they are also IFYE Alumni.  We had a fire, roasted hot dogs over the fire, which for some of the inbound IFYEs that was a first, we also made smores-another first for most of the inbound IFYEs .We then had to give presentations about our home country/state. It was so neat to see/participate in that-most people gave a few facts about their country/state and did a participatory activity. There was a lot of singing and a lot of dancing. I participated in learning several dances. After this we went back to the hotel to complete surveys, pack snacks, eat ice cream sundaes, take final pictures, and say goodnight/goodbye/until next time.

 So many wonderful nice volunteers here for the weekend, and wonderful IFYE reps here to meet, connect with, and form new friendships! So far this has been an unforgettable experience.