The Counseling and Student Development Center and International Student and Faculty Office will be offering a series of presentations and discussions for international students.Many students will be given the chance to discuss the experience of being in a culture different from their own.

The second part of the three-part program will be held at University Resources for Women located at 105 Normal Rd., from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Making friends and dealing with other interpersonal relationships in the U.S. will be the topic of the meeting.

On Tuesday, Nov. 19, there will be another discussion dealing with the process of making the decision to return to one’s home country or to stay in the U.S.

Shiraz Tata, sponsor of the discussions said, “I came as an international student from India to the U.S. in August of 1985. I attended SIU and received a master’s in psychology. I am presently working on my doctorate.”

“One should not feel alone in the experience of moving to a different culture. Having even one person or a few people provides a lot of support. It helps one to survive here,” Tata said.

The program is asking students not to feel as though they have to have problems in order to attend the discussions. “We’re looking for differences in values that show themselves in how friendships are initiated and maintained,” Tata said.

Tata said she hopes sometime in the near future a support group will be formed through her efforts and those willing to provide a base for international students. Participants will be asked to formulate ideas for a future event.