Who & What is ISI?
International Students Inc, ISI, is a non-profit organization of volunteers working together to reach out to and assist international university students & scholars. Our desire is to make friends with university students & visiting scholars from other cultures. This happens in many ways. It may start with initial assistance even before you arrive. It may also include help in learning how to survive once you get here and where to find things you need. And, for those who are interested, we love to create friendships, to invite you into our homes, to share what life is like in American homes, but also to learn about you and your life, culture, family and homeland.
We do this because we truly enjoy interacting with people of other cultures. We are Christians (we believe in the God of the Bible and follow Jesus). We also have personal desires to be cross-cultural and open in every way, accepting and respecting everyone equally from all walks of life, all cultures, and all beliefs. We have this attitude because we feel that as we get to know each other better, we are given a unique opportunity to build bridges of understanding that may ultimately contribute to making the world a better place.
We also understand it can be very hard to adjust to living in a different culture and we want to help you make that transition... we expect nothing in return. If we sent our young adults to live in your country, we would hope someone would be there for them as well.
Above all else, we hope that you will enjoy your life here and experience an accurate perspective of the US and it’s people.
To find out more about things we do, or to simply get help as you plan your trip here, check out the the pull-down tabs above.
A personal note of clarification: We’ve heard many students who have become great friends, who say that "other students try to warn us about Christians". Because there are some out there who give us a bad reputation, please know that we are not like that... We are just the opposite! However, there are groups who call themselves Christians but who really are not. One, Jehovah’s Witnesses (LDS) are very active around MIIS. They will come to your door with what they call a Bible...It looks like one but it’s not because they created it themselves to look like a real one (it's different). They will be pushy and also try to give you a magazine called Watch Tower. Be on guard because they will also come back!
Most important, again, we are nothing like this.
﻿Our goal is to help international students feel comfortable and accepted - to make your time in Monterey the best it can be. As a new arrival, you may need help with airport/bus pick-up (in Monterey), temporary housing, assistance in your rental search, finding used furniture and more.
To get a better idea of all the things we do with & for international students, check out the adjoining pages: “What we like to do with students,” “Friendship Families,” and others.
For more information that can help you become more comfortable in Monterey, including invitations for dinner in one of our American volunteer family homes, continue with this website and contact us to say hi.