The International Student Association held a gathering in the Student Center Wednesday that was part luncheon, part orientation for international students who will be attending Cerritos College this fall.

In attendance were people from places like Panama, Japan, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Indonesia, Columbia, the Philippines, and Taiwan among other countries.

Besides having lunch and meeting other international students, the event was a chance for the students to gather information about living in the United States, and attending Cerritos College, that hopefully will make their lives easier.

As students entered the luncheon area they were immediately made to feel welcome, as each one was greeted with a lei.

Then, in what was called the “Ice Breaker,” students were given a sheet of paper that had a list of 15 questions that each student had to go around the room with, and find someone to answer. This really made it easy for some of the shyer students to meet other people.

After the mingling session, Danita Kurtz, International Student Center coordinator got the program underway.

The first speaker was new Cerritos College president Dr. Jane Harmon who welcomed the students to Cerritos, and let them know that the college will support them as long as they are here.

Other speakers talked to them about things like having medical insurance while in the United States, becoming aware of California’s laws, knowing about Cerritos College’s Health Center, meeting American families, and clubs that are on campus.

The international students were fed a wealth of information, and then they were fed lunch.