WHAT IS THE FOUNDATION OF INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING THROUGH STUDENTS (FIUTS)?
FIUTS is a non-profit organization based at the University of Washington that strives to promote international awareness and cross-cultural understanding by planning events and activities for international and exchange students. These events are all-inclusive and include members of the Seattle community as well. Student volunteers who embody the same ideals and mission as FIUTS power this organization by supporting and leading these activities.
Group of students in Leavenworth, WA
UNDERSTANDING OF PERSONAL VALUES, MOTIVATIONS, PASSIONS, PURPOSE, AND ETHICS, WHICH GUIDE ONES BEHAVIORS
What I love the most about FIUTS, is that I have the opportunity to meet people that I normally would not meet. At a university the size of UW, it's already challenging enough to get to know people within your area of study, let alone the rest of the student population. At FIUTS, you'll never know who you'll meet and that's what's exciting. Among FIUTS community members, there's only one commonality, which is the desire to meet individuals from all around the world, hear about their experiences, and learn about their cultures. It's truly amazing how this single commonality can be the base of such strong and lasting friendships, how it can bring such a diverse group of individuals together; people from different countries and cultures, from different walks of life, people who study different things. For me, this is what life is about. It's about always trying new things and not getting stuck in the same, repetitive day-to-day life by learning about how the other 7 billion people on Earth live their lives. Though we may all seem different, it's remarkable how similar people really are when you give them a chance.
What I love the most about FIUTS, is that I have the opportunity to meet people that I normally would not meet. At a university the size of UW, it's already challenging enough to get to know people within your area of study, let alone the rest of the student population. At FIUTS, you'll never know who you'll meet and that's what's exciting. Among FIUTS community members, there's only one commonality, which is the desire to meet individuals from all around the world, hear about their experiences, and learn about their cultures. It's truly amazing how this single commonality can be the base of such strong and lasting friendships, how it can bring such a diverse group of individuals together; people from different countries and cultures, from different walks of life, people who study different things. For me, this is what life is about. It's about always trying new things and not getting stuck in the same, repetitive day-to-day life by learning about how the other 7 billion people on Earth live their lives. Though we may all seem different, it's remarkable how similar people really are when you give them a chance.
Square dancing during international student orientation. Autumn 2013.
WILLINGNESS TO TAKE RISKS
As a volunteer with FIUTS, I've done so many things that I would've never imagined myself doing and it's been absolutely great. One of the highlights every year with FIUTS is international student orientation for autumn quarter, where there are over 2000 international and exchange students entering the UW. The culmination of orientation is a two-day, one-night camp where we have traditional camp competitions, sing camp songs around the campfire, have "country" skits, and square dance the night away. With so many hesitant international students who are unfamiliar with these seemingly childish rituals, FIUTS facilitators are looked to to lead the charge and get the fun rolling. What I've learned through FIUTS is that when you're willing to take risks, people will follow suit. It just takes that one brave person to initiate. Likewise, in my life, I've learned to just go for things because if I sit around and wait, I'll always be wondering what if.
As a volunteer with FIUTS, I've done so many things that I would've never imagined myself doing and it's been absolutely great. One of the highlights every year with FIUTS is international student orientation for autumn quarter, where there are over 2000 international and exchange students entering the UW. The culmination of orientation is a two-day, one-night camp where we have traditional camp competitions, sing camp songs around the campfire, have "country" skits, and square dance the night away. With so many hesitant international students who are unfamiliar with these seemingly childish rituals, FIUTS facilitators are looked to to lead the charge and get the fun rolling. What I've learned through FIUTS is that when you're willing to take risks, people will follow suit. It just takes that one brave person to initiate. Likewise, in my life, I've learned to just go for things because if I sit around and wait, I'll always be wondering what if.
Taking some exchange students for a hike at Mt. Rainier
ACTIVE AND EFFECTIVE LISTENING
One of the biggest challenges as a volunteer with FIUTS is overcoming the language barrier. Direct communication can be a hurdle, but it can certainly be negotiated with not only active and effective listening, but also active speaking. During a leadership retreat I went on with other FIUTS facilitators, we practiced communication and listening through a variety of exercises. One such exercise was balancing ten people on a large wooden plank. The rules were: everybody had to be standing within one foot of the edge and nine people were blindfolded and could not talk. That last person was me. My job was to navigate nine people to the edge of this wobbly plank using only my voice. What I learned from this exercise and through all my encounters with international students, is how to speak clearly and specifically. If that doesn't work, find another way to communicate it, whether that be wording it differently, or using other forms of languages such as body language. The same can be said about listening. Making eye contact and nodding to show that you're listening, and repeating statements or asking questions to ensure that you're understanding correctly. These skills that I've gained from FIUTS will undoubtedly help me as a future dentist as I will have to explain things that may seem natural to me, but so foreign to my patients.
One of the biggest challenges as a volunteer with FIUTS is overcoming the language barrier. Direct communication can be a hurdle, but it can certainly be negotiated with not only active and effective listening, but also active speaking. During a leadership retreat I went on with other FIUTS facilitators, we practiced communication and listening through a variety of exercises. One such exercise was balancing ten people on a large wooden plank. The rules were: everybody had to be standing within one foot of the edge and nine people were blindfolded and could not talk. That last person was me. My job was to navigate nine people to the edge of this wobbly plank using only my voice. What I learned from this exercise and through all my encounters with international students, is how to speak clearly and specifically. If that doesn't work, find another way to communicate it, whether that be wording it differently, or using other forms of languages such as body language. The same can be said about listening. Making eye contact and nodding to show that you're listening, and repeating statements or asking questions to ensure that you're understanding correctly. These skills that I've gained from FIUTS will undoubtedly help me as a future dentist as I will have to explain things that may seem natural to me, but so foreign to my patients.
Group of exchange students from Autumn 2012
ABLE TO BUILD COMMUNITY AND BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER
To the right is a picture of myself with exchange students coming from Germany, Australia, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, and England. One of the most eye-opening things that I've learned through FIUTS, is that though people may seem so disparate, in actuality we are all remarkably identical. A few friends and I cultivated this belief by hosting events for these students to welcome them to this unfamiliar land that they are so passionate about discovering. We went trampolining at Sky High, trudged through the mud at the corn maze, had bonfires at Golden Gardens, and held numerous dinners and gatherings. I find it truly amazing how one simple common interest can form the strongest bonds. This group of students became everlastingly close and despite coming from various regions around the world, have managed to stay in touch and occasionally have had reunions. I'm very proud to have been able to be the "American" that brought all these students together and I'm so grateful that I was able to be part of their unforgettable experience. The ability to build community and bring people together is a valuable one; the most efficient, most creative, most passionate, and hardest working teams I've been on have all been ones where the members became some of my closest friends. At that point, you're working for more than just a common goal. You're working for each other, which can get you further than any goal you could set.
To the right is a picture of myself with exchange students coming from Germany, Australia, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, and England. One of the most eye-opening things that I've learned through FIUTS, is that though people may seem so disparate, in actuality we are all remarkably identical. A few friends and I cultivated this belief by hosting events for these students to welcome them to this unfamiliar land that they are so passionate about discovering. We went trampolining at Sky High, trudged through the mud at the corn maze, had bonfires at Golden Gardens, and held numerous dinners and gatherings. I find it truly amazing how one simple common interest can form the strongest bonds. This group of students became everlastingly close and despite coming from various regions around the world, have managed to stay in touch and occasionally have had reunions. I'm very proud to have been able to be the "American" that brought all these students together and I'm so grateful that I was able to be part of their unforgettable experience. The ability to build community and bring people together is a valuable one; the most efficient, most creative, most passionate, and hardest working teams I've been on have all been ones where the members became some of my closest friends. At that point, you're working for more than just a common goal. You're working for each other, which can get you further than any goal you could set.