The answers were thoughtful, a little unexpected, and very Seattle. Some are tucked into neighborhoods. Some are a drive away. All of them offer a different way to experience the Pacific Northwest.

Here’s what they shared:

For book lovers and cozy afternoons

• Elliott Bay Book Company, Capitol Hill
  A Seattle classic, warm, bustling, and easy to lose a few hours in, with a great café tucked inside.

• Third Place Books at Town Center in Lake Forest Park
  A neighborhood gathering place, part bookstore, part community hub, often with events, trivia, and live music.

• Columbia City Library
  Smaller and quieter, with beautiful light and a calm atmosphere for studying or reading.

For getting outside

• The Museum of Northwest Art (MONA)

  The Museum of Northwest Art collects, preserves, interprets and exhibits art created in the Pacific Northwest

• Lincoln Park and Colman Pool
  Forest trails, beach walks, and in summer, a saltwater pool right on the Sound.

• Saint Edward State Park
  Peaceful trails through tall trees, plus a historic seminary building that feels tucked away from the city.

• Lake Crescent
  Clear blue water surrounded by mountains, perfect for a quiet, breathtaking day trip.

• Ecola State Park (Oregon)
  Sweeping coastal views, forested hikes, and some of the most iconic scenery in the region.

• Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
  Boardwalk trails over wetlands, wide skies, and a chance to spot birds and wildlife.

For a day trip with a story

• Moclips Beach
  Wide, quiet shoreline that feels a world away, especially on a misty morning.

• Puget Sound Navy Museum
  A compact, fascinating look at naval history, easy to pair with a ferry ride across the water.

• Jetty Island
  A sandy island you reach by small ferry in the summer, known for shallow warm water and long, slow beach days.

• Port Townsend
  A Victorian seaport with a slightly haunted feel, full of maritime history, bookstores, and windy waterfront views.

If you’re new here, consider this your unofficial FIUTS starter list. And if you’ve been here a while, maybe there’s still something new waiting for you.

Coming soon: Seattle-area restaurants that are worth the bus ride!

At FIUTS, we know learning doesn’t only happen in classrooms and on campuses. Getting outside gives all of us time to breathe, think, and connect—with nature, with others, and with themselves. Hiking, paddling, or just exploring together opens space for conversation, shared experiences, and even photography—small moments that can boost focus, reduce stress, and support academic success.

But it can be challenging to explore the outdoors when you don’t know where to go! This spring, FIUTS wants to offer more opportunities for students to experience the beauty of Puget Sound—but rising transportation costs make group excursions harder to afford.

Our spring Puget Sound Adventures campaign raises funds to keep participation fees reasonable, so more students can join trips around the region—from forests and mountains to beaches and waterfronts. Exploring the region helps students form deeper connections to the place they are studying, and getting students off campus and into our beautiful region is essential for building community and belonging.

You can also get involved personally. If you’re a local resident planning an outdoor adventure and would like to invite a student or two along, we’d love to connect you. Reach out to Josef, and he can help coordinate for students to join your next excursion.

Every trail, beach, and paddleboard outing is an opportunity for discovery, connection, and inspiration. Your support makes these experiences possible.

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In the early 1960s FIUTS was already an active center for cultural exchange and deep connections. One of the students from that time who carried that spirit forward throughout her life was Polish poet and translator Ludmiła Marjańska.

Marjańska was born in Częstochowa, Poland on December 26, 1923, and grew to become one of her country’s respected voices in poetry and literary translation. She studied English philology at the University of Warsaw where she built the language foundation that supported her later work translating major English‑language poets.

She published her first poems in 1953 and went on to publish dozens of volumes of her own verse while also translating poets such as Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Emily Dickinson and Robert Burns into Polish. She helped bring the texture of English‑language poetry to readers in Poland and enriched her own work through this cross‑cultural dialogue.

In 1961 she spent time as an exchange student in Seattle. That experience was meaningful enough that Marjańska stayed connected with FIUTS for decades after. In a heartfelt letter dated January 1, 1991 she shared a copy of her poem “Canyons,” writing that it was for “the young poets who visit FIUTS.” That simple gesture shows the lasting bond she felt with the FIUTS community and the encouragement she wished to pass on to future generations of writers.

Marjańska’s work and life remind us that poetry bridges cultures and that connections made in international exchange can resonate across a lifetime. Whether through her own verse or her translations of others, she helped build enduring understanding through language and art.

In the early nineteen fifties, FIUTS was part of a special program called Operation Goodwill. Each Thanksgiving, 30-40 international students studying in Seattle traveled to Chehalis, Washington to spend the holiday with local families. The focus was straightforward. Bring people together. Expose both students and members of the community to different lives and perspectives. Create opportunities for conversation and shared experience.

The program ran from nineteen fifty two into the nineteen sixties. In Chehalis, Reverend George Shuman of Westminster Presbyterian Church and members of Rotary International coordinated local participation and host families. In Seattle, FIUTS recruited students and prepared them for the visit, while Chehalis church and community leaders organized train transportation, placed the students with host families, and created the schedule of weekend activities.

By nineteen sixty one, Operation Goodwill was in its ninth year. On November twenty five of that year, the Chehalis Daily Chronicle published a feature article documenting the visit. Large photographs showed international students and Chehalis families sharing meals and time together over the Thanksgiving weekend.

The program included several community activities. Students attended a local high school football game and participated in a public “international show”, where they shared music, performances, and stories from their home countries.

Students also visited local industrial sites and places of historic interest in and around Chehalis. These visits offered a window into the region and created space for conversation about work, history, and daily life.

Operation Goodwill is one example of how FIUTS has long connected international students with communities beyond campus. These early programs shaped the organization’s approach to exchange, emphasizing relationships, curiosity, and learning through experience.

From the FIUTS Archives is an effort to document FIUTS programs from earlier decades. Together, these stories help trace how our work has evolved while staying grounded in the same mission - to advance international understanding in our community, and to engage students and others in shared experiences that promote peace and goodwill between people and nations.

Do you have a FIUTS memory you’d like to share? Reach out to info@fiuts.org and we’ll share it with the whole community!

Rishitha Jaladi is from Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India, and it is still home. Even after traveling widely, her roots there continue to shape how she sees the world. Vijayawada is where she learned to stay grounded, give back, and support the people around her, which is why returning home felt right.

Rishitha took part in the Education and the Future of Work exchange program with FIUTS. What stands out most is learning alongside people from many countries and backgrounds, and the care of the FIUTS team. Being in that shared space showed her how much perspective comes from listening to others and learning together. The experience pushed her to bring those ideas back home and apply them in her own community.

She believes in trying new things, trusting her instincts, and building with intention. That approach led her to start her own food and beverage brand, Araku House, and to work as a Lead Strategist and Growth Manager at Tamada Media. For her, ambition matters when it is paired with clarity about why you are doing the work, not just what you hope to achieve.

Her FIUTS experience reinforced these values. A session with young women entrepreneurs in Seattle made a lasting impression and encouraged her to pursue entrepreneurship after returning to India. She remains close with friends she met through FIUTS, checking in regularly and learning from one another across borders.

Today, Rishitha is back in Vijayawada, where she runs her cafe, manages a food and beverage franchise, and has recently taken on a new role at one of India’s leading media organizations. She sees this stage as one of growth and change. Her exchange experience showed her how much can come from stepping outside familiar spaces, and she carries that lesson forward as she keeps learning and building, at home and beyond.

My name is Erin Goodman, and I was on the FIUTS staff team in 2006 as Manager of Education Outreach. I grew up in Seattle, but have also lived in New York, Atlanta, and Charleston before returning here fifteen years ago to raise my own children. I live in Rainier Beach, where I love knowing my neighbors and feeling the real sense of community.

As a child, I lived in the Seward Park neighborhood, one of the most diverse areas in the country. At the time, it was just my neighborhood, and I thought that was what all neighborhoods were like — lots of different people living together. That early experience shaped how I see the world and inspired me to choose South Seattle as home for my family.

At FIUTS, I managed outgoing study abroad orientations, the pen-pal program, and visiting student educational programs. With a small staff, we all pitched in wherever needed. I have wonderful memories of Wednesday lunches, holiday celebrations, and I even had the fun privilege of serving on the hiring committee that brought Era Schrepfer to FIUTS.

During my time at FIUTS, I clarified the values that continue to guide me today. Focusing on what we have in common, building empathy, and connecting across differences shaped how I approach both work and life. These lessons now guide me in building friendships across nationalities and, more recently, across political perspectives.

For the past eleven years, I have served as Executive Director of the SODO Business Improvement Area, advocating for a safe, clean, connected, and engaged neighborhood while supporting businesses, employees, and visitors.

My children were young when I worked at FIUTS, and it was truly magical for them to participate in activities with the students. I have so many fond memories of their interactions, from pumpkin carving to ice-cream socials. At the time, I didn’t fully realize how much these experiences would shape their perspective. Now as adults, I can clearly see the influence in their love of travel and experiencing different cultures, and I am so grateful that they had the opportunity to have a FIUTS experience of their own.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, FIUTS has developed a special gift to share with our FIUTS community: A FIUTS Guide to Giving Thanks. Inside, you’ll find reflections on gratitude, tips for courageous conversations, and recipes from around the world that celebrate the spirit of giving thanks.

The guide is designed to be useful in everyday life—whether at the dinner table, in a classroom, or at work. You’ll find practical ways to practice gratitude, engage in conversations across differences, and connect with others in meaningful ways.

It’s for anyone in the FIUTS community—students, hosts, alumni, volunteers, and friends—who wants simple, actionable ways to bring more understanding, appreciation, and connection into daily life.

Thanks to Deo Ibarra for his amazing design!

Click here to download the guide - and happy Thanksgiving!

FIUTS Language Exchange is back!

We are excited to announce the relaunch of Language Exchange, this is a FREE program open to everyone in our global community that provides participants with opportunities to practice languages, make new friends, and engage in cultural exchange. 

To honour the diversity of our community and the various languages that are spoken here, we’ve created this program to foster cultural exchange and language learning by matching participants that can help each other practice. This program’s purpose is to allow participants to engage in speaking practice, not formal instruction, so we try our best to match partners based on reported language proficiency, gender preferences, and group size preferences.

Learn more about the program and sign up using this link.

https://www.fiuts.org/fiuts-language-exchange

This Thanksgiving, you can share more than just a meal, you can share an experience that connects people across the world. FIUTS is matching international students studying at Seattle area colleges and universities with local families for Thanksgiving dinner, creating opportunities for friendship, cultural exchange, and lasting memories.

Who Can Join?
Anyone can apply! Families, couples, and groups of friends are invited to host a student - or a few! - for the holiday. International students can sign up to be matched for the traditional meal.

Why Participate?
Hosting or joining a Thanksgiving dinner offers a unique chance to learn about different cultures, share traditions, and enjoy a festive meal together. Many past participants say it’s one of the most memorable experiences of their year.

How to Get Involved
Hosts: visit fiuts.org/hosting-thanksgiving to sign up. Students sign up from the events calendar.

Students and hosts should apply soon—spaces fill quickly!

FIUTS has partnered with IREX: A global development & education organization to implement the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Fellowship program in Seattle and 16 other cities across the USA from April 27 - May 21, 2026.
 
YLAI is the U.S. Department of State's flagship program for emerging entrepreneurs and community
leaders from across the Western Hemisphere. It strengthens economic ties throughout the
Americas by fostering entrepreneurship, innovation, and cross-regional collaboration.
 
FIUTS is seeking organizations and businesses that would be interested in hosting a fellow for a 4 week (16 business days) a professional exchange. Over the course of the exchange, Fellows develop new skills and share their experiences while U.S. companies gain valuable global perspectives, market insights, and lasting international connections, including an opportunity for reciprocal exchange. 

Fellows are professionals from multiple fields, including advanced technologies, agriculture, animal care, architecture, artisan products, arts/music/culture, biotechnology, community development, design, digital marketing, education, energy, fashion, food and beverage, healthcare and wellness, hospitality and tourism, manufacturing, sports and fitness, youth empowerment. 

Watch this video to learn more about hosting a fellow!

Application form here

Reach out to Olena Vlasova with any questions about becoming a YLAI host organization.

“The biggest learning outcome for me was understanding how civic engagement can be a powerful tool for social change. I gained valuable skills in leadership, empathy, and community collaboration, which helped me realize that even small steps can lead to meaningful impact.”

Anonymous FIUTS student participant

This reflection captures why our work matters. FIUTS programs don’t just introduce students to new cultures, they equip them with leadership, empathy, and practical skills to make a difference both here in our neighborhoods and in communities around the world.

Meeting and even exceeding our goal is more important than ever this year. It’s hard to believe the pandemic ended only five years ago, and in this short time, FIUTS has also faced the UW contract cancellation and now significant federal grant losses. Any one of these challenges could have closed our doors, Your support today ensures we keep welcoming students and building community.

We still need to raise $63,000 by December 31 to reach our goal, and every gift helps. Your support allows students to continue having these transformative experiences while helping us keep FIUTS thriving and our community connected to the world.

Thank you for being part of the FIUTS family and for helping make these meaningful experiences possible.

FIUTS offered a series of events throughout the week designed to help students adapt to our community. There were plenty of photo-worthy moments as students discovered local neighborhoods, took in the views from the water, and shared their stories with new friends.

Check out some of our favorite pics from the week below - congratulations to our new student community, and WELCOME TO SEATTLE!

Nada has been the Student Programs Specialist with FIUTS for 3 years now and she has decided to pursue a new professional path. As a woman from the Middle East, she faced significant sexism and systemic barriers, which fueled her passion for social justice and inclusion. Moving to the U.S. as an Arab immigrant, she channeled her need for survival into advocating for marginalized communities, promoting racial equity, and dismantling institutional racism. These are the principles Nada was always fighting for during her time at FIUTS. She believed in the importance of equity and equality.

Professionally, she’s worked to empower individuals by helping them realize their potential in inclusive spaces. In a previous job, Nada taught English to refugees in Lebanon, she supported them in overcoming systemic challenges like language barriers and ageism, while also providing guidance on navigating the job market. At FIUTS, she empowers young leaders from diverse backgrounds through leadership development and community action planning, assisting on U.S. Department of State programs and helping participants create tangible change through their Community Action Plans.

Her work has allowed her to build cross-cultural partnerships and engage with diverse communities, advocating for long-term, systemic change. She is passionate about addressing inequities in institutions like education and criminal justice, and she’s found restorative justice practices to be a powerful alternative to oppressive systems, emphasizing empathy, accountability, and community.

What does Nada have to say about her time at FIUTS?

“It has been the best and most challenging a person could ask for. I didn’t realize how much I would learn from this role until I started working with all these incredible people from all different walks of life. I had the wonderful opportunity to meet people from all over the world without having to travel to those countries.

I think the job itself definitely taught me new skills but the people I met along the way are what really stuck with me. From Armernia to Zimbabwe to Iraq to Ukraine to Taiwan and really anywhere you can think of, FIUTS was the international hub for interacting with all these individuals. And I feel very grateful for this chance.

I can now travel anywhere around the world and there would someone ready to take me to all the local shops and feed me all their great food. This experience of connecting with people as deeply as I did throughout my journey is unreplaceable.

FIUTS is very much my comfort zone now and I am nervous to embark on a new path but I a can confidently say that FIUTS equipped me with the right tools to be ready for whatever comes my way.

Thank you so much FIUTS fam for making my journey so exceptional. I will hold all the memories with me forever.”

From August 18-22, FIUTS had the joy of welcoming students from Koishikawa Metropolitan Secondary School in Tokyo for a week of science exploration at the University of Washington and across the Seattle region. The school is designated a “Super Science High School”, and the program brought together leading researchers, cutting-edge labs, and inspiring cultural experiences to inspire students to deepen their learning and explore career paths in science fields.

Students met with faculty and researchers to learn about engineering, materials science, assistive robotics, and high-performance computing. They tried their hands at medical simulations, studied packaging and sustainability, and even got a close-up look at the electron microscope! Beyond campus, they visited the DigiPen Institute of Technology, the Museum of Flight, Pike Place Market, Chihuly Garden, and the Microsoft Visitors Center.

Throughout the busy week, students reflected on what surprised them, what challenged them, and what they found most inspiring. Many shared that seeing science applied to real-world problems gave them a new perspective on their own research projects.

“I was surprised that technology can connect to art and nature, like glass and engineering,” one student said after visiting Chihuly Garden and Glass.

“The healthcare visit helped me to visualize my future more clearly, because I want to work in a medical field,” shared one student after visiting the UW WISH medical simulation lab

“I practiced giving speeches, emphasizing the important things. My presentation was very long, but the Ambassadors helped me to make it shorter and clearer.” one student reflected on the public speaking workshops

The week ended with a final dinner where students presented their own research topics to the group, celebrating all they learned and the friendships they formed.

We are so grateful to the many UW faculty, local partners, and community members who made this experience possible. We are so inspired by the curiosity and creativity these young scientists brought to every session, and we hope to see them again in Seattle as they pursue their future careers as scientists!

I'm writing to share some personal news and reflect on what this community has meant to me. After more than 19 years as Executive Director of FIUTS, I’ve made the decision to step down from my role at the end of this calendar year.

FIUTS has shaped my life in ways I could never have imagined. I’ve had the privilege of working alongside students, volunteers, alumni, staff, board members, and partners who care deeply about connection, curiosity, and community. I’m proud of what we’ve built together, and I know this is the right time to make space for new leadership and fresh energy.

Leading this organization has meant working through joyful moments and incredibly hard ones. The past few years have been especially challenging. But through it all, we’ve stayed focused on what matters most: the students who turn to FIUTS for belonging and opportunity, and the power of global experiences to grow leaders and build peace.

Looking back, I am so proud of the ways FIUTS brings people together across cultures and communities. During my time here, we have:

• Welcomed tens of thousands of new international and U.S. students to the Seattle community, helping them feel at home and connecting them with one another.

• Engaged students in thousands of exploration experiences across the Pacific Northwest, fostering friendships and understanding through shared adventures.

• Trained and supported hundreds of student facilitators who help deliver programs and mentor others, serving thousands of students from around the world.

• Transitioned FIUTS CulturalFest from a campus event to a community-wide celebration of cultures, attracting audiences from across the region.

• Hosted hundreds of exchange participants for short-term programs focused on leadership, civic engagement, and community project planning.

• Continued to center respect, understanding, and meaningful connection in all of our programs and partnerships.

This transition comes during our 77th anniversary year, and I hope it will be a moment to reflect, reconnect, and recommit. The FIUTS Board of Trustees will share more about the transition process in the coming weeks. My plan is to stay on through the end of December to support a smooth handoff and ensure the next Executive Director has the best possible foundation to lead.

Thank you for your belief in this organization and in me. I’m grateful for your partnership, your encouragement, and your commitment to FIUTS’ mission. There’s more to come, and I’m excited to cheer on what’s next.

With appreciation,
Era Schrepfer
Executive Director
FIUTS

It’s been 77 years since FIUTS was founded to welcome international students to Seattle and engage them as neighbors in our community. Over the decades, our city and the world have changed many times. Through it all, generations of students, volunteers, and community members have met through FIUTS programs and woven friendships, shared ideas, and built bridges across cultures that have stood the test of time.

Today’s political and social climate is creating new barriers between people. Mistrust, isolation, and division are growing, and the programs that help people come together face greater challenges. The stakes are high for students and academics who seek not only an education but also a place to belong and grow here in the Pacific Northwest and around the world.

And FIUTS is facing challenges like never before. Since losing the University of Washington contract three years ago, and now with federal cutbacks to exchange programs, resources are tighter than ever. At the same time, demand is rising as more students seek connection in a divided world. These pressures mean fewer opportunities for students to learn, explore, and build meaningful bonds.

We are committed to nurturing these connections. Like kintsugi, the art of repairing broken pottery with gold to highlight its beauty, your support helps turn challenges into strength and resilience.

When you give to FIUTS, you add the gold thread that holds our community together. Your gift helps us heal divisions, deepen understanding, and ensure this legacy of connection and belonging continues for generations to come.

Please join us today. Your gift, big or small, makes a real difference in keeping our community strong and connected.

What does it mean to be a leader? At FIUTS, we believe that leadership is not only about taking action. It’s also about listening, reflection, and knowing what you stand for. One of the core skills we practice in our programs is voice—the ability to share your story, speak your truth, and connect your beliefs to the impact you want to make.

For the past several years, students in FIUTS leadership programs have participated in a public speaking practice inspired by the 1950’s radio show This I Believe. Each participant shares a short personal statement about a belief that shapes their life and leadership. The result is always powerful: moments of vulnerability, clarity, and connection that stay with us long after the program ends.

Here are a few excerpts from across the years:

“Each time I help someone, tutor someone, compliment someone, check on a sick friend, my heart is warmed by the smiles on their faces. Even if they don’t smile, I know I’ve planted a seed of kindness that will grow into a tree and replicate itself.”
— Emanuel, Nigeria

“I believe in collaboration over competition. I believe that success tastes sweeter when shared—not because it’s easier, but because it’s human.”
— Nino, Georgia

“As I got to the shelves I found it there patiently waiting for me. It has been over three years now since I read that book—and many others since then. I sometimes wonder how my life would have become if I had not invested in books… It is a result of the paper and word married together that I have been able to direct the course of my life.”
— David, Botswana

“Now I choose kindness in the smallest moments. Letting a stranger go first in line. Texting a friend just to say, ‘I’m thinking of you.’ Speaking gently to myself when I fail. These aren’t big things. But they matter… Kindness became my way of staying whole.”
— Ani, Armenia

Every time we hear them, the reflections shared by students are different. They’re shaped by each student’s lived experience, their values, and their vision for the future. But they all speak to a kind of leadership that is rooted in self-awareness and grounded in purpose.

Leadership doesn’t always mean having all the answers. It starts with knowing what you believe in, and having the courage to say it out loud.

We’re back from summer break in Sardinia… and WTF, America?!

While we were away, immigrant communities in LA and Seattle were under attack. It was heartbreaking to watch from afar and feel helpless to do anything. Meanwhile, we were in Sardinia, learning about a different kind of struggle—how an island community has held on to its identity in the face of centuries of occupation and cultural erasure.

Why Sardinia?
Giovanni, one of the dozen incredible students we’ve hosted through FIUTS over the years, invited us. He’s all grown up now—has a nice husband, is thriving, and teaches as a professor in upstate New York. He asked us to visit his hometown, Alghero, and we thought, why not?

Giovanni’s parents and sisters welcomed us with open arms. We fell in love with Sardinia—an island full of color, culture, and resilience. They shared stories of growing up, of being forced to learn a language other than the one their parents spoke, and what it takes to keep culture alive in a place that’s been occupied by Moors, Spain, and Italy. So special.

It reminded us: resistance can be cultural. It can be quiet. It can be deeply rooted in community.

Culture is resistance.
Black culture.
Indigenous cultures.
Queer culture.

What does that have to do with FIUTS?

Hosting a student is a small, meaningful way to disrupt the system. The system does not want us to learn from people who are different from us. It does not want us to build deep relationships with people outside our background. Hosting says: no thanks, we’re doing it anyway.

So if you’re feeling helpless right now, don’t be.
Join a group. Stick to a plan. Vote.
And consider hosting a student this fall.

Learn more about hosting

We’re in this together.

Love,
Kim and Chavi

We are so proud of the connections sparked through FIUTS programs for both local and international students who find a home here. In celebration of the 2025 graduation ceremonies, we look back at a year of FIUTS memories. From the very first Welcome Week event to our final Spring celebrations, the past year at FIUTS has been a rollercoaster of fun.

We started off the year with a bang welcoming new international students to the Puget Sound. Strangers became friends over games, a BBQ, and a memorable cruise.

Winter brought visiting programs - groups of students who travel to our region from around the world for learning, exploration, and fun. They connected with local students, FIUTS Ambassadors, and hosts and formed lifelong memories and friendships. Many returned home prepared to deliver projects that will impact their home communities into the future.

At FIUTS CulturalFest in April, hundreds of students shared their talent and culture on the Benaroya Hall stage and at the International Expo. The energy was electric!

And each month, FIUTS events & activities offered unique ways to explore our region and connect with the people and places that make the Seattle area special.

But what really made it all special wasn’t just the events, it was the more than 2,000 students who took part in FIUTS programs in the past year. Every conversation, every laugh, every hug hello or goodbye helped to build community and belonging. Thank you for being part of the FIUTS family and here's to another year of creating friendships and collecting moments that last a lifetime.

1. The Seattle Freeze is Real… but Defrostable

Seattleites are friendly—but in a “smile at you and keep walking” kind of way. Making friends can take effort, especially outside of class. The trick? Join clubs, accept ALL invitations, and don’t be afraid to make the first move. Ask someone to grab coffee (Seattleites love coffee), and you’ll crack the code.

2. Coffee is a Lifestyle, Not a Drink

Speaking of coffee, Seattle runs on caffeine. If you weren’t a coffee drinker before, you might become one. There’s a coffee shop on every corner, so take your time finding your spot. Pro tip: Learn to order quickly; baristas work fast, and no one wants to be the person holding up the line.

3. Jaywalking is an Art Form

In some countries, crossing the street wherever you feel like it is normal. In Seattle? Not so much. People actually wait for the crosswalk signal—even when there are no cars on the road. But once you’ve been here long enough, you’ll find yourself doing it too. Weird, right?

4. The Campus Geese Rule

If you see a goose, keep your distance. They look cute, but they have no fear. If one starts walking toward you, just accept that you’ve lost the sidewalk battle. Step aside. Let them pass. It’s their campus now. The same goes for squirrels. and rabbits.

5. Everyone Owns a Rain Jacket, No One Uses Umbrellas

Seattle rain is a misty drizzle, rarely a downpour. Locals wear good quality rain jackets and call it good. Nothing will be canceled because of the rain. Carrying an umbrella is a dead giveaway that you’re new. If you insist on using one, just be prepared for judgmental side-eye.

6. The Light Rail is Your Best Friend

Public transportation is solid here, and the light rail can take you straight downtown or even to the airport. It’s cheap, efficient, and much easier than dealing with Seattle traffic and parking.

7. FIUTS is Where the Fun Happens

If you’re looking for people who get the international student experience, FIUTS is your spot. Whether you join us for welcome events, local excursions, or FIUTS CulturalFest, it’s the easiest way to make friends and feel at home. Bonus: You’ll meet people from all over the world.

7. Feeling awkward? Become a Facilitator!

Sometimes it’s hard to show up at an event when you don’t know anyone, but it’s easier if you’re the one in charge. Becoming a FIUTS facilitator offers you a way to go on events without being the awkward newbie; instead you’re one of the in-crowd. Plus, you get a cool shirt and invites to special FIUTS Facilitator events!

Final Thoughts

Being an international student is an adventure, but that’s what makes it fun. You’ll get lost, learn a LOT, and eventually find your people. So, embrace the challenging moments, find humor in the culture shock, and enjoy the ride—because these are the stories you’ll be telling for years to come.