As Luther prepares for the end of the semester and the winter break, a few students find themselves navigating the campus’s emptiness. International students are among them, and their experiences during the break are a unique blend of exploration and a search for connection.
Every year, Luther accepts approximately 185 international students from more than 62 countries, which includes both international students and American students studying in institutions outside the U.S. Most overseas students do not have family in the United States, making it difficult for them to find someplace to stay with or visit during breaks. Leen Zaher (‘26) an international student from Lebanon, stated that she needs to stay on campus because she has nowhere else to go.
“There’s not much to do during breaks as most people are away,” Zaher said. “I would love to visit other places but I do not have relatives around.”
Gad Max Armel Asopjio Donfack (‘26), an international student from Cameroon, said that he prefers to stay on campus during break despite having relatives in the United States because traveling is expensive during vacations.
“Most of the international students are on scholarship here and on top of that they have to pay their taxes which is very expensive for what they earn from work-study,” Donfack said. “I prefer to save my money and stay in my dorm during breaks.”
Because the cafeteria is closed during Thanksgiving and Easter breaks, Luther supplies students with food vouchers from local stores in return for meal swipes.
Most students use the vouchers to cook their own meals, and Durah Albadr (‘26), an international student from Iraq, noted that she combines the vouchers with her friends and buys groceries to cook food together.
“All of our friends combined the vouchers together and we bought a lot of ingredients to make meals,” Albadr said. “I try to cook food from back home using these vouchers during the breaks.”
During longer breaks, such as winter or summer, faculty members or staff volunteers try to provide additional food to international students. Salomé Valdivieso (‘23), a former Luther student and current Ylvisaker Hall Director and Global Learning Fellow, stated that she does not believe anyone should be reliant on the kindness of staff for meals over the break.
“The staff are also on break when students are on break but many staff still provide students with food out of the goodness of their heart,” Valdivieso said. “The people here at Luther are very kind but Luther as an institution should make better arrangements and policies for students so that they [the international students] don’t have to rely on others’ kindness.”
International students have to relocate during longer breaks over the winter, spring and summer because Farwell, Olson, Larsen and Brandt buildings close. This often means that students have to find someone who lives in an open hall to move in with them. They find it tough to leave their halls for brief breaks, such as spring break, which lasts only a week.
“I really would wish Luther would do something about it,” Zaher said. “It’s not the same when people are not here on campus and it’s easier if we stay where we are, especially during breaks when there’s snow.”
Prior to the epidemic, Luther used to organize weekly trips to Walmart for students. In earlier years, the Student Senate considered running shuttles to Rochester for students living on campus.
“I met a lot of friends riding the Walmart shuttle when I was a student,” Valdivieso said. “I think it’s important for the BIPOC and international students community to be in an environment where they can find their people. The shuttles to Rochester would increase a sense of belonging for these students.”
In order to accommodate international students, Residence Life, Dining Services and the Center for Intercultural Engagement and Support host activities like bingo during breaks or volleyball games during the summer and serve meals to students during these times. Donfack mentioned that the Center for Intercultural Engagement and Support (CIES) provides international students with Friendship Families who invite them for activities, home-cooked meals or celebrations.
“We do not live with families, and some of us are not comfortable staying in someone else’s house for an extended period of time,” Donfack said. “I believe Luther does a lot for international students, but I hope they find better ways to provide them with what they need.”
