Office of International Programs

The International Friendship Program is FREE to join!

As local friends, you have no financial obligation to your international friend. If you wish to offer to pay for activities or meals, that is welcome but not expected.

We suggest you meet with your international friend at least once a month, but your interactions will depend on your mutual interests.

You can choose to do activities together ranging from cooking a meal, to exploring the outdoors, to attending on-campus events…. from sports to the arts! Inviting your international friend for everyday activities such as meals, errands, or family gatherings is a great way to connect & share American culture, as well.

The International Friendship Programs pairs local families and individuals with an international student/scholar at Appalachian State. You will be a contact, resource, and friend to someone new to this country, and new to Boone... and you will get to learn about a different part of the world in the process!

This is not a homestay program, so your international friends will not live with you.

Feel free to contact international-outreach@appstate.edu with any questions about the International Friendship Program.

You will be paired with the same local friends until you complete your studies/work at Appalachian State. For some, that could be one semester; for others, that could be a couple years.

The International Friendship Program attracts a wide range of individuals and families from all over Watauga County and beyond!  Your Local Friend could be a family with small children, a retired couple,  or an individual from age 25 to 95.  They may be American or hold citizenship from another country.  Local friends come in all varieties!  They will be interested in sharing their culture(s) with you and learning more about yours.     OIED Staff will carefully review your application to match you with someone with shared interests.

The International Friendship Program is FREE to join!

If you do any activities that cost money with your local friends, you should always offer to pay for your own expenses. If your local friends offer to pay for you (dinner, movie, etc.), of course it is okay to accept their kind offer—however, you should not assume your local friends will take care of your expenses, and it is not appropriate to ask your local friends to buy you things.

We suggest you meet with your local friends at least once a month, but your interactions will depend on your mutual interests. You decide how and when you spend time together!

You can choose to do activities together ranging from cooking a meal, to exploring the outdoors, to attending on-campus events…. from sports to the arts! This is a great way to learn about local culture and experience parts of America that you may not otherwise see on-campus.

The International Friendship Programs pairs international students/scholars at Appalachian State with a local individual or family who lives in locally. This family or individual will be a contact, resource, and friend as you transition to life in Boone.  Together, you will get to learn about each other and explore the local area.

This is not a homestay program, so you will not live with your Local Friend.

Appalachian endeavors to balance the value of participation in education abroad experiences against potential risks and crises that may develop. The health and safety of Appalachian personnel and participants abroad are of primary concern to the University and its overseas partners. Senior administrators, education abroad administrators, education abroad program leaders, and host institution representatives abroad share the responsibility for monitoring local and national conditions affecting participant health and safety and providing relevant information to program participants.