2008 Woodie Awards
International students struggle to find housing during breaks
Sidney Fey
During Thanksgiving, Christmas and spring breaks all the dormitories on campus close and all residents must leave the buildings. However, if all international students were to be housed in apartments they would be able to stay during smaller vacation breaks.
Sophomore Subash Atreya is a student from Nepal. In order for him to go home, it costs around $1,500 for airfare and the plane ride lasts for two days, one-way. As a result, the possibility of going home for Thanksgiving or spring break is nonexistent and Christmas is possible but unrealistic.
"It would be hard for freshmen to find places to go, but sophomores have friends who they can stay with over the breaks," Atreya said. "Last year at Thanksgiving I didn't know what to do."
Atreya also said that he has not received help from SLU, Residence Life or the International Student Association with finding a place to stay during breaks. There is the option of living in an apartment on campus, but the cost, Atreya said, was around $50 each night, and many students cannot afford that.
"Usually I can live with friends in St. Louis or go with them," Atreya said. "Also during Christmas or summer vacation I could rent an apartment by subleasing through a friend."
Mohammad Aljuraish, a sophomore, is a student from Saudi Arabia.
He said that SLU did not offer to help him, but the International Center did.
"They can send us to a family that will host us for a few days," Aljuraish said. "Some of my friends have done that for one night and it worked out for them."
Though there is the option of having host families, many students are apprehensive about staying for an entire week with a family, and instead opt for hotels.
"I did stay with my roommate last year at his house for Thanksgiving," Aljuraish said. "But I didn't really ask because of customs; I'd only stay with a good friend. A few friends got lucky when they were freshmen and lived in Marchetti so they didn't have to leave."