International Student Association / ISA at UCLA

09/15/2017

Hello All!

Before school starts, ISA wants to bring you an alternative insurance choice. DIANins Global is one of our sponsors for the new year and they're able to provide international students with a variety of health insurance plans. Check out their website www.dianins.com if you want more details!

06/22/2017

JUST 1 HOUR LEFT TO APPLY!

This summer join 200+ participants in making UCLA an easier place to navigate while also making new international friends. Sign up to be a mentor NOW!

APPLY HERE: http://bit.ly/B3mentor2017

ATTENTION RETURNING MENTORS: For the long questions, just write "Returning Mentor" Bruins Beyond Borders is a student-driven program from International Students Association (ISA) that helps international undergraduate freshmen transition into UCLA. Current students can sign up as mentors for incomin...

05/24/2017

The World In-Sight team brings to you UCLA's Largest Cultural Expo on 31 May at Wilson Plaza! Be sure to checkout The Cambodian Culture at our event!!!!

05/23/2017

World In-Sight 2017 is coming to Wilson Plaza in 9 days!

Take a look at some of the organizations participating this year!

Please share these posters with your friends to inform them of this amazing event!

05/19/2017

Hey all,

General Representative 2 Kayla He is looking for students to join her office and help her achieve her goals for next year!

If you're interested at all in running for office, this would be a fantastic opportunity for you!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdYk6XWHO4nqyT4oHrOyRz8GGDybYJoOZPeKqhg3j-8vlfM6Q/viewform?c=0&w=1

*Applications are DUE SUNDAY, MAY 21 at 11:59pm* No late applications will be accepted. Thank you for your interest in the USAC General Representative 2 Office! We are excited to learn about your interests and passions so we can know you more. This office does not belong to anyone. This is the offic...

05/12/2017

World In-Sight 2017 is here!

Want to experience different cultural cuisine and performances? Every year, UCLA’s International Student Association hosts World In-Sight, UCLA’s largest cultural exposition at Wilson Plaza. We’ve invited cultural groups from all over campus to celebrate the diversity UCLA has to offer!
Besides the great food, we’ve also invited talented performers to perform songs, dances, and instruments from all over the world!

No admission tickets are required! Student and visitors can freely experience glimpses of an eclectic range of cultures and casually “travel” around the world within minutes.

Event Details:
Location: Wilson Plaza
Date : May 31st, 2017
Time: 11AM- 4PM, Performances 12PM - 2PM

Come see the world with us!!

Find out more about us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/uclaworldinsight/

04/26/2017

Ayye dude what's good? is back with Episode 2! Today we met up with Sanjana Nidugondi ()!

Sanjana's from South India and among other activities she is a Peer Learning Coach with GRIT ():

I got involved with grit my second year. I was a coachee and I loved the program so much that I applied to be a coach myself.

It really focuses on holistic wellbeing and providing the tools for self empowerment. It is so powerful to see students be able to support each other like this. and the BRC (Bruin Resource Center) is a beautiful space that is home to so many marginalized communities on campus.

In terms of the stigma and "inaccessibility" of groups on campus to internationals, my only advice is to ignore it. It's not easy. You may be the first international student there. But you are taking the first step, and your community will join you!

Thank you for your input Sanjana! She's also President of Indus and works at many other orgs! If you or any international student you know of is doing something on or off campus that is non-traditional and stereotypical of international students (read: engaging in Greek life, working in industries not developed in one's own country, in TFT/Radio, or just doing anything hella cool) feel free to hit us up on Facebook or Instagram and we'd love to interview and feature you on our page!

04/25/2017

WIN A $10 STARBUCKS GIFT CARD!

Hey international students!

Here's a short 3 minute survey for research on campus initiatives. If you take the survey, you could win a $10 Starbucks gift card!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSegpqoGb6FI38ghjoISJz8J8H0o3VG4EeakwPPn2Dbo1mQ_iA/viewform?usp=sf_link

This survey is to collect data on a few different topics related to International Students and their opinion about the support given by their university in the form of programming and cultural exchange. All respondents will have the option to be entered into a $10 Starbucks gift card giveaway at the...

04/23/2017

World In-Sight is back this year on 5/31! Come to Wilson Plaza anytime between 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. for all the international food and performances !!!

04/22/2017

Episode 1:
We met up with Ballroom/Latin Dancer Shatakshi Mohan (). From Bangalore, India, she tells us her tale of navigating her talents in the US which led to dancing at the USC Glamor Smackdown and the Orange Blossom Ball at UCR:

I joined Dancesport because of a need to just try something unfamiliar and more indigenous to the environment I'm in. I've been doing Bharatnatyam (Indian classical dance) for 12 years and when I shifted to the US for college, I decided that since I'm upheaving everything I have ever known anyway and moving so far out of my comfort zone, I would do the same with dance. Dancing is my passion but I did not wish to depend on one kind of dance I performed in order to dance.

seemed the perfect place to start my acclimatization process. Standard and Latin dances were different enough for me to be countered with challenges in every class but also similar to Bharatnatyam enough that I could apply movements, graces and expressions from Bharatnatyam to it. I wouldn't say I have moved on to something more "western", it's just a balancing factor to ensure that I get what I wanted from UCLA: the experience of being a global citizen.

International students face a daily struggle to maintain their identies and not forget their "roots" but at the same time, also be "American" enough to relate to others. Enclosing yourself within a bubble of familiar people is a survival instinct.

But there are millions of people and millions of new experiences waiting right outside the bubble, as long as one makes the first move to step out of it. It takes courage and I think every decision-small or big-makes a huge personal impact.

Thank you for your input Shatakshi! If you or any international student you know of is doing something on or off campus that is non-traditional and stereotypical of international students (read: engaging in Greek life, working in industries not developed in one's own country, in TFT/Radio, or just doing anything hella cool) feel free to hit us up on Facebook or Instagram and we'd love to interview and feature you on our page!

04/20/2017

Pilot:
Ayye international/domestic fam, hope your day is going well! We're starting a campaign of cataloguing innovative international students who are breaking stereotypes in terms of the activities an international student is expected to join.

First up we have first year Undeclared-Social Sciences major, Anam Husain ()! Anam is acting in the upcoming play with HOOLIGAN Theatre () Anam talked to us about her experience and offered advice for international students who are hesitant to partake in things that are too "Western":

I joined HOOLIGAN Theatre Company in the fall when I acted in their 2016 One Acts Festival, but this is my first main stage musical performance!

HOOLIGAN is a theatre group for all majors, and as my peers here range from Theatre Film and Television students to engineering students, not having a TFT major never held any of us back.

Transitioning to a new country and a new education system can be extremely daunting, so I do understand why most international students cling to what's familiar or in their comfort zone. Honestly, that's why HOOLIGAN theatre was the first thing I rushed to do here. It's challenging at first since one feels so 'different' but one also has to learn to embrace it as factors that make one unique. I was initially very conscious of my accent while acting, but having peers who celebrate and support individuality always helps. Yes there is a stigma regarding international students not being as involved on campus, but everyone needs reassurance and validation to be able to get out of their bubble. I'm lucky to have found that at HOOLIGAN, so that's where student groups and peers can play a major role.

Thank you for your input Anam! The play is on the 21st to 23rd of April, do check it out! If you or any international student you know of is doing something on or off campus that is non-traditional and stereotypical of international students (read: engaging in Greek life, working in industries not developed in one's own country, in TFT/Radio, or just doing anything hella cool, feel free to hit us up on Facebook or Instagram and we'd love to interview and feature you on our page!)

04/18/2017

Congratulations to on a successful Culture Show this week! Including performers from many UC's as well as USC, this show was an absolute delight to attend. UCLA Pakistani Student Association