Friendship Partner Program is a great way for international students to connect Americans. Since most internationals are very far away from their home, Bloomington International Student Ministries (BISM) tries to find you a home-away-from home (not a live-in situation).
Through the Friendship Partner Program, an American family or a single person adopts an international student/family as friends. These American Friendship Partners try to include you in some of their family activities, helping you adjust to life in America, giving you practical help such as taking you shopping for food (when possible), and celebrating American holidays with you. Most importantly, they will be a special friend to you while you are far away from your home country, family and friends.
You can request for an American friend whose primary focus is to be Friendship Partner or a Conversation Partner:
Friendship Partner: An American family or a single person adopts an international student/family as friends. These American Friendship Partners try to include you in some of their (or their family) activities, helping you adjust to life in America, and giving you practical help such as taking you shopping for food (when possible). Most importantly, they will be a special friend to you while you are far away from your home country and relatives. Activities may involve doing something with them at least once a month and calling each other once a week.
Conversation Partner: An American family or a single person adopts an international student/family as friends with the goal of helping the international with their English language. These American Conversation Partners might do similar activities like the Friendship Partners. But the Conversation partner’s main focus will be to help the international improve their conversational English by providing a non-threatening environment to use their English in varied settings. Activities may involve visiting the American partner or going out with them once a week. During the visits, the American partner will encourage you to use English.