Posted November 2, 2020 by Wheaton College
Tags:
Adventurous Thinking
International Student Programs
Grace Zheng '22 - The Impact of Cross-Cultural Relationships
By: Grace Zheng '22
The International Student Programs (ISP) office offers international students support groups to help us transition into life at Wheaton. Unlike many other colleges, Wheaton’s international students include F-1 visa students, MKs (missionary kids), and TCKs (third-culture kids). When I came to Wheaton as an MK from China, I first joined a group called Ladder. I formed relationships within a small group of international students, and my group leader helped us adjust to Wheaton.
In addition, I also joined MuKappa, a club that develops friendships among MKs and TCKs through weekly Sunday night dinners. These gatherings provide space for asking questions, sharing experiences, and fellowshipping among students from diverse cross-cultural backgrounds. With the support of my MK and TCK friends, I became the publicity manager of MuKappa in my sophomore year. One of the highlights of this experience was advertising for different events such as Espionage, Snow Camp, parties, and worship nights. Some were for international students while others were for all students.
Although ISP connected me to other international students, they helped me connect with domestic students as well. With domestic students, I can share experiences and offer opportunities for them to engage in cross-cultural conversations. These conversations help all students grow in their knowledge and appreciation of ethnic diversity as brothers and sisters in Christ.
Want to learn more about International Student Programs? Here's more info for you!
/prod02/channel_1/media/IMG_0708-920X613.jpg)
/prod02/channel_1/media/IMG_0760-920X613.jpg)
/prod02/channel_1/media/Laurel-Bacote-920X613.jpg)