International Friends Program Story

Ahmed Derar, an International student from Syria, and Robert and Melanie Levings, a family from Tallahassee, met through the pairing of the International Friends Program (IFP). The program matches new international students at FSU with domestic students and people from the community for the purpose of building friendships and sharing cultures. The pairing has worked, as all parties involved can't say enough good things about their partner(s). Robert has been involved in this program even as a master's student at FSU getting a degree in International Affairs and taking Arabic classes on the side. He has been studying the Arabic language for over four years and sought out the International Friends Program to supplement his learning with a native speaker and to learn more about the culture. Why so interested in Arabic language and culture of the Middle East? It all started when he was an undergrad at FSU and participated in the Beyond Boards Program to Costa Rica. He liked it so much and made a strong connection with the host family he visited again and still thinks of that time as the best time of his life. The Costa Rica trip was his first time out of the United States and it whet his appetite for more travel; the next trip led him to Jordan. His journey finally ended just as he felt he was getting settled in and familiar with the vast differences he had first observed. Since that time he has been working meticulously on the Arabic language, reading news articles online, purchasing satellite television for Al Jazeera Arabic, and requesting an Arabic IFP partner. "When Ahmed brought a cake and card to our first meeting I was so touched by the gesture and generosity we knew we had met someone special."

Ahmed has been in the United States since 2004, studying in Washington, D.C. and now at FSU. He has made many American friends. He requested a Tallahassee family because he has been away from family for a while now and missed the rich, engaging cultural atmosphere only a family can provide. "It's different with family, there's more culture here," Ahmed muses. He adds, "I really like the idea of getting to know a family, I was ready for it."

Robert and Melanie have been planning a stay in Jordan or now maybe Syria, thanks to Ahmed. Robert is applying to Arabic language programs in the region and Melanie was not about to let him go back without her. "I don't know what I'm going to do once I get there . I hope to find a job." Ahmed nods his head and reassures her that she is likely to find a job. Ahmed has even gone as far as putting Melanie in contact with some women who used to live in the Middle East so that "she can ask all the questions she wants to them," he says while smiling at her. "I ask Ahmed a lot of questions about family, women, dress, women's work place," Melanie says. She has even been working on her Arabic: "I know a few words." She starts saying the words elephant, sweetheart, and phrases like "little-bylittle" in Arabic as her husband and Ahmed acknowledge and encourage more words from her.

When they get together, they discuss international affairs issues, geography, and families. At the last meeting, Ahmed brought a map of Syria and showed the couple where he used live and the major cities of the country. "I had known about Syria's major cities, but it was neat to actually get to learn about the rest of it," Robert reflects. One of the first questions in their initial meeting was why Ahmed decided to come to the U.S. "I was very curious about why he came, "Robert says. Ahmed pauses then smiles, "My family was worried about me for a time; they would worry if I was being treated fairly by my professors." It is a known fact that Syria has been in the top 10 safest countries for years now, and both Robert and Ahmed agree to this whole heartedly. "Syria may be more safe than here [U.S.]," Ahmed quips.

When asked to sum up the overall experience with Ahmed and the International Friends Program, Robert states, "People are people everywhere. It seems like a mystery at first, but now it seems that "somebody" just happens to be from a different place, that's all." Ahmed smiling ear-to-ear sums it up also, "Experience is exciting! There are many things you are worried about and you need different answers than professors can give." That is why Ahmed is overjoyed to have found Robert and Melanie.

Ahmed was cleaning off the white board after class one day for his professor and an American classmate asks him if he is trying to "brown-nose" the professor. Ahmed is confused and tells him, "This is what we do in Syria for our professors. Even during class we will wipe down the boards for them." Two more days pass and each time Ahmed is asked why he is doing this task, Ahmed tries to explain it another way saying, "We respect professors as like we would our fathers and we just do these kinds of things." The next day after class the classmate is drawing a large picture on the white board, Ahmed thinks he's got a lot of work ahead of him, but the classmate turns and smiles at him and then starts erasing it, "Today, I help you erase the board."