October 19: Practical Training Workshop;
Deadline to drop a class without a grade;
Deadline to file a Pass/No Pass option card
October 31: Halloween Coffee Hour;
ASFC Halloween Event
November 7: Campus Abroad meeting
November 12: Veteran’s Day – Campus Closed!
November 13-16: Foothill International Film Festival
November 16: Practical Training Workshop
In the Spotlight...
The entire International Programs staff would like to extend a warm welcome to all new and returning international students to Foothill College. We realize that you have many choices for educational institutions, and we are honored and pleased that you have chosen Foothill as the foundation for your educational and professional careers.
With an international student body of over 700 students representing over 70 countries, we are committed more than ever to creating initiatives that will help you understand and explore yourselves as part of a country and a world, within the context of a strong local community. We hope that we will be able to spark your cultural enthusiasm and intellectual interest with programs such as monthly international student coffee hours, exclusive tickets to Celebrity Forum speaker series, International Education Week activities and International Night. In addition, our field trips will offer you a chance to see unexplored areas while building new friendships and learning more about your community.
As always, we welcome any questions and appreciate any feedback you can provide to make your stay here at Foothill more enjoyable. We wish you all a successful and eventful year at Foothill College!
Winter break is a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with your friends, celebrate holidays with the family or go on a long-awaited vacation. We want you to enjoy your break and have a safe return to the United States to continue your studies. Please be aware that you must have a valid travel signature on the bottom of page 3 of your I-20 to re-enter the country. If the I-20 is not signed or if the signature will be more than 5 months old when you come back into the country, you must request a new travel signature from the International Student Office before you travel.
The winter travel season is a very busy time for our office, and we ask that you allow yourself adequate time for processing. Please submit your travel request along with the I-20 to our office in Room 5922 by Wednesday, November 21.
Don't wait too long to request your travel signature, because your vacation won't wait for you if you are left behind at Foothill College!
Please note that since Arthur Levine, the Coordinator of International Advising, will be attending a professional NAFSA conference in the beginning of November, there will be temporary changes to the immigration advising schedule.
IMPORTANT!!! During the period of FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2 to FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9, any immigration requests (related to practical training, less than 12-units approval, travel signatures, social security letters, I-20 extensions and other matters) WILL NOT BE PROCESSED.
In order to accommodate students in processing immigration matters, walk-in advising is being expanded as follows:
Monday, October 29: 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Tuesday, October 30: 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Wednesday, October 31: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Thursday, November 1: 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Friday, November 2 - Friday, November 9: No Immigration Advising
Monday, November 12: 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Tuesday, November 13: 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Wednesday, November 14: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Thursday, November 15: 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Regular advising schedule (posted on the left) will resume on Monday, November 19.
Starting on November 19, the International Student Office in Room 5922 will start processing transfer out requests for students transferring to another school in January. Please bring your acceptance letter from your new school and their transfer form (if they have one) and request a Foothill College Transfer Out Form.
If you want to change or have already changed your major, immigration regulations require that you notify the International Student Office within 10 days of making the change. You will need to complete a Change of Record Form in the International Student Office. We will issue a new I-20 for you reflecting the change of major. An email notification will be sent to you when your I-20 is ready to be picked up.
Did you know that when you move, you MUST give the insurance company your new address? Contact Scholastic Insurance by phone (888-587-4747 or 818-610-0660) or by email at http://www.sismed.org/ and give them the following information:
If you are interested in working on or off campus, or if you are considering applying for Optional Practical Training (OPT) after graduation, you should attend our Practical Training seminar to get information about employment and practical training options available for international students (Curricular Practical Training, CO-OP, CO-OP Education, Internships, OPT).
Practical training workshops will be held on Friday, October 19, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. in Room 3403, and on Friday, November 16, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. in Room 3403.
Scare and amaze your friends at our Halloween-themed International Student Coffee Hour on Halloween (October 31), from 11:00 am-12:00 pm in the Hearthside Lounge, across from the bookstore in the new Campus Center. Prizes will be awarded for the best and scariest costumes as well as plenty of free drinks and treats for everyone (Halloween-themed, of course!). Bring your friends and your scariest attire!
Bippity, Boppity, BOO! Find out what Halloween is all about at the ASFC Halloween Event in the Campus Center Plaza.
Wednesday, October 31, 12:00-1:00pm, Campus Center Plaza
Try you hand at carving pumpkins, check out the outrageous costumes, or just enjoy candy and good company at this Halloween celebration. Aren’t sure what Halloween is or why it’s so much fun? Come on down to the Campus Center Plaza on Halloween between 12:00 and 1:00pm.
Try a typical American past time right here at Foothill: trick-or-treating! Stop by the International Student Office in Room 5922 on or before October 31, say “Trick or Treat?” and get a tasty piece of candy! For more information on Halloween and trick-or-treating, please read our Halloween article in the Advisor’s Corner section below.
Chris Matthews is an intense, experienced, and influential political commentator most famous for his television talk show Hardball With Chris Matthews on MSNBC. With his history as a political aid, speechwriter, and political and historical author, he brings a rich background and firm knowledge to his political debates. He has brought a fresh new perspective to Washington talk with spirited political analysis and incisive commentary. This outspoken and straightforward speaker is not to be missed!
Free tickets for the Chris Matthews lecture will be distributed at 2:00pm on Thursday, November 8 in Room 5403 (contact Allison) on a first come first served basis.
Bob Newhart – Wednesday, December 5 at 8:00pm
Bob Newhart has won Golden Globe and Grammy Awards for his exceptional wit and flair for comedy as both a stand-up comedian and actor. He has acted in films such as Elf, Legally Blonde 2, In & Out, Rescuers Down Under, Catch 22, and more. He has acted in his own stand-up television program in 1961: The Bob Newhard Show, and he is an accomplished author with his autobiography “I Shouldn’t Even Be Doing This”. With his trademark button-down style, ordinary demeanor and an uncanny ability to observe humor in everything, expect an evening of laughter and insight into the human mind.
Free tickets for the Bob Newhart lecture will be distributed at 2:00pm on Friday, November 30 in Room 5403 (contact Allison) on a first come first served basis.
The International Programs Office is planning activities to celebrate the International Education Week (IEW), November 13-16. IEW is an annual initiative mandated by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education to promote the value of international education and to foster global awareness. Foothill College is proud to be joining other esteemed colleges across the country in celebrating IEW in order to enhance a global perspective in campus life and to strengthen mutual understanding.
The highlight of this year’s IEW is the Foothill International Film Festival (FIFF) that will feature a collection of award-winning foreign films, with titles to be announced soon. All films will have English subtitles with the film in the original language. This event is open to everyone free of charge: students, faculty, staff, and community members. Bring your friends and loved ones to enjoy ethnic refreshments and music before each film screening and to connect with other globally minded individuals and expand your cultural knowledge. Full program details will be provided in the coming weeks.
How can you help?
We welcome any volunteers to help set up for the event, organize food and drinks, advertise, provide music and decorations, and more! If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Allison Largent at (650) 949-7105 or LargentAllison@fhda.edu. There will be an informational meeting for all volunteers in the upcoming weeks – contact Allison to find out the details or check our website.
Please remember to turn in all of your documents to the International Student Office in Room 5922. These documents include your Personal Data Sheet, Terms of Agreement, and your TB Test and MMR. Thank you!
ISO will be closed on Monday, November 12 in observance of Veteran’s Day, and the campus will be closed as well. However, weekend classes still meet. In addition, the office will be closed on Thursday, November 22 and Friday, November 23 for the Thanksgiving holiday. There will be no weekend classes November 24-25.
Darlene Culbertson, Director of International Programs, has moved from Room 5403 to Room 5922, the International Student Office. She can still be reached at the same telephone number and email address.
The Foothill College International Programs Office recently welcomed a new addition to its staff. Allison Largent joined the International Programs team in August 2007 and will be contributing in the areas of student activities, international recruitment preparation, agent relationship maintenance, and International Programs Office support.
Allison graduated from UC Santa Cruz with an MA and BA in Linguistics and a minor in Italian Studies. Having lived in Italy for two years and worked with international students in a language school for three years, she understands the anxiety, concerns, and excitement that international students experience while adapting to life in the U.S. She is looking forward to working with all of you and planning stimulating activities and field trips.
Please stop by in Room 5403 to meet Allison and feel free to contact her by phone or email.
The International Student Office is very happy to introduce our three dynamic, helpful, and competent employees: David Lees, Sandra “Paola” Pedroza, and Suiting He. Please stop by Room 5922 with any questions or just to say hello!
David Lees
David started working for the International Student Office in April, 2007 shortly after starting his first quarter here at Foothill. He is from Manchester, England and arrived in the U.S. in March of this year. He is majoring in Music Technology and before coming to Foothill, he was a guitar instructor for six years in high schools and elementary schools back in England. You will often see him at the front desk, so please stop by and say hi!
Sandra “Paola” Pedroza
Paola began working for the ISO just this month, and she is a second year student at Foothill majoring in Biology. She is from Bogota, Colombia and has lived in the U.S. for two years, including Boston, Massachusetts for nine months before coming to Foothill. You will see her at the front desk and around the office so please introduce yourself!
Suiting He
Suiting is also a very new employee who started working in the International Student Office this month. She was born and raised in Guangzhou, China and has lived in the U.S. since October 2006. Before starting her first quarter at Foothill this fall with a major in Biology, Suiting attended a community college in Seattle, Washington. You can find her in the International Student Office helping Sherri Mines, our International Admissions Coordinator. Please join us in welcoming her to our office.
From November 6-8, a few of the staff members of the International Student Office will be attending the NAFSA Annual Regional Conference in San Francisco. This is a professional conference focused on international education. Arthur Levine, Sherri Mines, Barbara Brown, and Allison Largent will all be attending the conference. The International Student Office will remain open.
Cathy Denver, one of our three International Student Counselors, is currently on a professional sabbatical leave until April 7, 2008. She will not be available for appointments or individual consultation until next April. Please see Debra Lew or Kimberly Lane for academic counseling.
Student Alumni Panel: Wednesday, October 17, 12:00-1:00pm in Room 3523
Students who have recently transferred from Foothill College to UC Berkeley, Santa Clara University, and San Jose State University will share their experiences and answer questions about transferring to a variety of four year institutions.
Transfer Day! Thursday, October 18, 10:00am-1:00pm
Representatives from over 50 universities will host information tables to provide you with comprehensive information on transferring. Please contact the Transfer Center for a complete list of participants. Some of the universities that will be represented are: Stanford, Columbia University, CSU East Bay, Golden Gate University, Mills College, San Jose State, Santa Clara University, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Los Angeles, UC San Diego, University of Phoenix, University of San Francisco, and many more!
UC Admission Workshop: Thursday, October 18, 1:30pm-3:00pm
A panel of six University of California Admissions Officers will conduct a group presentation on UC Admissions. They will also provide highlights of programs at their respective campuses as well as tips on writing a personal essay.
CSU Admissions Workshop: Thursday, October 18, 1:30pm-2:50pm in Room 3523
Admissions Officers from San Francisco State University and San Jose State Universities will provide admission procedures, criteria and tips for applying to all of the CSU campuses. Bring any questions you may have!
Columbia University Application Workshop: Thursday, October 18, 3:00-4:00pm in Room 3523
A representative from this prestigious Ivy League university will provide information on application to the university as well as tips on making your application competitive!
Florence, Italy Program: Spring Quarter, April 27-June 25, 2008
Spend a quarter in Florence, Italy, one of the world’s centers of art and culture. Immerse yourself in the language and culture of the Renaissance in a city still adorned with the paintings, sculptures and architecture of Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Brunelleschi. Florence will become your classroom as you study Language, Literature, History and the Humanities.
The application deadline is coming up soon for this exciting program offered through the Foothill and De Anza Colleges District Campus Abroad Program. International students are eligible to participate and should meet with an immigration advisor to discuss this option.
For more information about the Florence, Italy program, please attend one of the informational meetings where you can meet Professors Karen Chow and Delores Davison and get a copy of the brochure/application:
Wednesday, November 7, 12:00-1:00pm in Room 6302
Wednesday, December 5, 12:00-1:00pm in Room 6302
The application deadline is January 3, 2008.
For general information about the Campus Abroad Program, contact Art Turmelle at (650) 949-7614 or visit the website.
For the first time, Foothill will be hosting reading and book signing sessions throughout the year from distinguished authors. The upcoming authors are:
Frank Delaney – October 17 at 3:00pm in Campus Center Student Lounge
A bestselling author from Tipperary, Ireland, Frank Delaney has written numerous non-fiction books, novels, novellas, and short stories, including Ireland, Simple Courage, and coming soon, Tipperary. Famous for his unparalleled aptitude for bringing Irish history to life and his confident storytelling, this charming author will lighten an already delightful event.
Guy Kawasaki – October 24 at 12:00pm in Appreciation Hall
An evangelist, entrepreneur, investment banker, venture capitalist, and author, Guy Kawasaki made his way from being a psychology undergraduate at Stanford to managing director of Garage Technology Ventures. He is a Japanese American and native of Honolulu, Hawaii and has been an Apple Fellow at Apple Computer, Inc. and written eight books including Rules for Revolutionaries & The Macintosh Way.
The United Nations Association Film Festival (UNAFF) screens documentaries by international filmmakers focusing on topics such as human rights, environmental survival, women’s and children’s issues, refugee protection, homelessness, racism, disease control, universal education, war, and peace. The theme of this year’s UNAFF program will be “Camera as Witness,” and includes an annual international film festival (about thirty films will be shown over five days) at Stanford with additional screenings in East Palo Alto and San Francisco.
Every day from October 24, 2007 – October 28, 2007
Dia de los Muertos is a holiday with Aztec roots celebrated all over the world typically on November 1 (All Saints’ Day) and November 2 (All Souls’ Day), although previously it was celebrated on the ninth month of the Aztec Solar Calendar which was usually around August. Most famously celebrated in Latin America (Mexico in particular) and by Mexican-American communities in the United States, festivities often include visiting cemeteries and churches, eating festive treats, or creating altars for the deceased. While this holiday may seem slightly macabre to unknowing audiences, its participants see it as a way to honor the departed while also celebrating life and rejuvenation.
Halloween is celebrated on October 31, and is very popular for both children and adults in the United States. In fact, Halloween is second only to Christmas for popularity and in money spent! On Halloween, adults and children are encouraged to dress up in costume, and children go trick-or-treating in the early evening. Many people attend costume parties or visit a “haunted house”.
Most Americans ignore the pagan history of Halloween (see origins below) and regard it as a “fun” holiday to dress in costume, hold parties, and trick-or-treat with their children. Trick-or-treating is where young children dress in costume and visit neighborhood homes asking “Trick or treat?” Neighbors give the children a treat, which is usually candy.
Many businesses, homes, and offices decorate for Halloween. Jack-o’-lanterns, a hollowed out pumpkin with a face carved into the side and light inside for illumination, are extremely popular. Other decorations include ghosts, bats, skeletons, vampires, werewolves, witches, black cats, mummies, and anything black and orange!
Some local events include Callson Manor Haunted House (callsonmanor.com), Gyro’s Scream Fest Haunted House (3dfearfactory.com/sanjose/), and flashlight tours of the Winchester Mystery House (winchestermysteryhouse.com). Whatever you do, have a Happy Halloween!
Halloween Origins: Halloween traditions and symbols originate with the ancient Celtic peoples of Ireland. A major holy day for the Celts was Samhain (pronounced “sowen”) on November 1. Samhain marked the beginning of Winter: the day before Samhain was the last day of Summer, and the day after Samhain was the first day of Winter. Samhain was “between seasons”, and a magical time where the spirits of the dead could “walk between the worlds” and be contacted for advice. Samhain included feasts and celebrations to honor the dead as the living spirits of the loved ones who held the wisdom of the tribe.
In the Spotlight...
