Welcoming Cal State Monterey Bay (CSUMB) international and transfer students, the International Student and Scholar Services hosted their International Coffee Hour of the semester.
Hosted on Friday Sep. 5, 98 students signed up for the opportunity to meet their prospective peers on campus. Taking in students from all over the world from 10 a.m. to noon, the social event provided coffee and pastries while students had the chance to share their cultures.
Opening the doors of Redwood Hall, students from Sacramento to Seoul, South Korea congregated to share their cultural stories of food and learn more about their new campus.
For others, it was a chance to learn more about CSUMB and Monterey Bay. “I was a little confused,” said Seokchan Jung, a third year Marine Science student from South Korea. “I didn’t know how to get around. The transit isn’t like Seoul with our trains. I needed some help to learn it.”
Daichi Hirai, an undeclared second-year student is a Tokyo native and, now, an Otter. Coming to CSUMB, “it was one of my top options. It’s so beautiful, I’m happy I got to come here,” he said. Several of the students had similar stories, immigrating for the semester from abroad, and coming to enjoy Monterey Bay.
“I miss the food in Japan, but I’m more excited to try the food here,” said Hirai. Hirai was among several transfer students coming from Japan. The social event acted as a way for international students to find each other as well as build new connections.
“I love Japan, and speaking with our transfer students makes me want to go visit again,” said Hayward native Hector Macias, a third-year business and global studies student. “I also get to spend time with people I don’t normally have the chance to.” .
The event catered to the newly immigrated students, hosting many local CSUMB students as well as international students. Macias, a long-time CSUMB student, spent the event speaking with multiple students, asking about the international students’ culture, and explaining the intricacies of the CSUMB campus.
As the event came to a close, faculty member Amy Miyabi Chen spoke about the future opportunities the program offered to its current transfer students.
“We want to host more of these. These events help bring people together, and we want them to continue happening,” said Chen. The International Student and Scholar Services hope to host not only more events, but more International Coffee Hours.
Photos by Maddie Honomichl