Feedback from First International Student Connections hosts and students, 2025-2026
From V:
I want to use this opportunity to thank you all so much for the warm welcome, the conversations and effort put into the realization of this extension of love, care, sense of community and family. You’re the family connections we’ve longed for and the parents we left behind. Tank you for opening your doors to us mere strangers, we look forward to a more beautiful future ahead of us together in friendship. Goodnight for now… 1 Dec 2025.
Shirley & Family, with V and wife
From S:
Hello Noreen, Glenn, Ray, and Fenella
Hope you are doing well.
It is one of the best programs to be part of, thanks Ray and Fenella for making this possible.
Noreen ( The Artist) and Glenn ( The Rocket Man) thanks for hosting me today.
Warm regards,
S.
Patrick, Mary-Anne and family, with N and friend:
Dana, Laurie, E.:
From V, Student, 21 April 2026
How do I begin?……. Well, I’m short of words to describe my experience with Shirley. I’d describe her in a word ‘Mother’.
This was the best thing to ever happen to me since I moved to Canada. She made me and my wife feel at-home, we spent over a week together in her home, she introduced us to her Family, neighbors, and her pets.. We met a couple of times at her place.
She also took us on adventures, the west end to listen to beautiful country music, the Winnipeg art gallery(and even got a membership for me), took us for lunch, thought me how to shovel snow which I love doing now, and many more but to mention a few.
We are looking forward to more interesting adventures in the future together, so ‘yes’, our relationship will go beyond just this term for sure, but only if she’s willing.
I will definitely recommend this experience/program to other international students I know.
Thank you for letting JESUS inspire you to initiate this program, and for letting me experience this aspect of life.
I am really grateful Sir.
Sincerely,
V.
From A., Student, 2 May 2026
Hi Ray,
My name is A. and my host was Jacintha.
It was a bit difficult to arrange a meal time as both our schedules are very pretty tight but we were able to meet twice this past semester, safe passage was ensured for me both times. Sharing food was enjoyable and I met her family as well I do see myself continuing this relationship after the semester ends. Thank you for this wonderful Opportunity for connection.
Sincerely,
A.O.
Shirley, Host – 2 May 2026
I’ve had a great adventure and we had many, many outings and meals.
In fact C. & his wife have even done some house sitting for me when I am out of town.
We have gathered for Christmas, Easter.
Gone to the Leaf, to the WAG, to Selkirk to meet another Nigerian congregation, where I have friends.
It’s been a great experience.
Thank you.
Shirley
Laurie, Host – 4 May 2026
How easy was it to arrange meal times together with your student?- Easy
· How often did you and the student get together in the term? 2x: once at our house and once at a Nigerian restaurant with him.
· What was your experience of your meal time with them? Enjoyable, difficult, a learning experience for you and them, or anything else? He is a nice young man. We did enjoy talking with him and learning about his country. The second time we went out to a Nigerian restaurant with him: he picked the place. Was fun to try food we had not tried before.
· Do you see yourself continuing the relationship with the student as the term comes to an end? (Note that this is not expected of hosts or students, and would be seen as something hosts and students enter into of their own accord. We would also not be at all surprised if some chose to do that.) I am not sure. We have not heard from him, except that I had said I would put the word out to a couple of my connections or give him leads, as he was looking for work. So we did go back and forth a bit on that. If he reached out, it would be great. I would definitely see how he was doing.
· Would you be willing to continue participation in the program, signing up for a new student in the fall term? Yes sign us up again for new student. Meeting with a foreign student was new for us. I think this is a great program. Thanks for doing this!
· Based on your experience, would you be willing to invite people you know to sign up for the program? Yes. I have a couple of people in mind.
Anothony & Teresita, Hosts – 4 May 2026
Overall, our experience with J.J., our international student, has been very good. He is a very personable young man who seems to be quite studious and involved in many things. He works part-time at a clothing store, as a TA for two courses at the University, and is a fashion model for a company. He is also quite involved with the African Students Association. We’ve had him over for dinner once per month since December. Below are our responses to your questions:
1. How easy was it to arrange meal times together with your student?
- It has not been a problem; we would give him several dates as options, and we seemed to be able to work out a mutually convenient time.
2. How easy or difficult was it to ensure safe passage for the student?
- We pick him up and drop him off – either from the university or his apartment, since we are about 10 minutes from either location, and the bus schedule is not as convenient where we live.
3. How often did you and the student get together in the term?
- So far, five times (once per month since December). We plan to continue to have him over once per month until June. Then we will take a break in the summer and continue in September when the university resumes. He is in his second year in the Faculty of Science.
- He would text if we have not scheduled anything or if he hasn’t heard from us at the start of the new month!
4. What was your experience of your meal time with them? Enjoyable, difficult, a learning experience for you and them, or anything else?
- Our experience has been very positive. He is easy to have a conversation with and very open to sharing about his family and his life here and growing up. He is so appreciative of the meals and offers genuine compliments. The last meal we had was Shepherd’s Pie, and he even texted the next day about how much he enjoyed the pie!
5. Do you see yourself continuing the relationship with the student as the term comes to an end?
- Yes, as stated above, we will continue having him over monthly except for July & August. We will resume in September when the university starts up again.
We have talked about our experience with others positively, hoping they might become interested in being involved. We will continue with J into the next school year. It has been enjoyable for us to host J for a monthly dinner, and we look forward to continuing with him.
This is a good initiative that you started and announced at St. Timothy’s parish in November. Thank you for inviting folks like us to participate.
From S, student – 17 May 2026
How easy was it to arrange meal times together with your host(s)?
It has been very flexible!
Noreen and Glenn has been very accommodating considering the fact that I stay busy with school and job.
· Was safe passage ensured for you? Or did you not need that, could take care of it yourself?
Yes all the times.
· Were you told you could invite another student along for the meal (the intention being to afford you a sense of security)?
Noreen and Glenn have very open heart, they asked me several times.
· How often were you and the host(s) able to get together in the term?
More than 5 times.
· What was your experience of your meal time with your host(s)? Enjoyable, difficult, a learning experience for you and them, or anything else?
Very enjoyable.
· Do you see yourself continuing the relationship with the host(s) as the term comes to an end? (Note that this is not expected of hosts or students, and would be seen as something hosts and students enter into of their own accord. That said, we would not be at all surprised if some chose to do that.)
Yes, Noreen and Glenn have became more like my family, and I want to be there whenever they need me.
· Based on your experience, would you be willing to invite other international students you know to sign up for the program? We of course hope your answer will be ‘yes’, but if not, we would really appreciate knowing why not, as we could learn from that, again to improve the program for future students and hosts.
A 1000% YES.
It doesn’t only provide students with mentors but also a sense of having a family in a totally different country.
I wish every student could have a host family like Noreen and Glenn.