Here I was, with two suitcases fresh off the plane after twenty odd hours of flying, and there was not a single soul on campus. However, it was the Office of International Student Affairs that laid out the welcome mat. After being accepted to Notre Dame and before I arrived, the OISA had been in contact with me constantly. A student volunteer called me weeks before I left to answer any question I had and provide information on what to do when I first got to Notre Dame. My heartfelt thanks goes to the OISA, without which I would have been completely lost.
Many international students have a fear of adjusting to the culture.
And, it is a very different culture here at Notre Dame. Firstly, it is a Catholic Institution and secondly, international students and other ethnic races make up a small percentage of the student population. It may surprise many, but people here on campus are extremely friendly and helpful. My personal experience was when I checked into my residence hall. People you meet on campus will not hesitate to help, and that is part of the integration process.