I am writing this short paragraph just after a fantastic Thanksgiving Dinner with my international friends at Cosmo. I cannot believe that I arrived only three months ago, as this place became so important to me. Yes, I want to thank the Club for the unique experiences I got from the Cosmo!
But let’s start from the beginning. Actually I am not an official Cosmo member, nor do I live in the Cosmopolitan house, but fortunately the Cosmo “adopted” me and I could participate at many unofficial and official activities.
I met wonderful people from all continents at the Thursday Coffee hours. Joining the Coffee hours is like meeting friends from all over the world. The more often you go there, the more people you know and get to know. Unlike other Clubs, you do not have to come every week. Everybody can come when and how often he or she likes. The atmosphere is very open and –cosmopolitan :-) and you can learn a lot about other countries and cultures.
Even more impressive are the Cosmo residents, the special persons living in this special house. The longer I know them, the more I love them. I think living at the Cosmo changes the residents in a positive, global-thinking way. Suddenly the world (represented by a huge map in the living room) seems so small and one little part of it sits together in 307 John Street, Champaign.
Being fascinated about my experiences, I kept telling my “non-cosmo” friends about it until most of them came to a coffee hour or dinner. I am happy about everyone who also gets the Cosmo spirit and enjoys being there.
May as many people as possible get such an experience, anywhere on this earth!
Simone Stahringer is an exchange student from Germany. She has enjoyed her first time abroad full force and hopes to come back one day.
(Click on thumbnail image for larger image.)
Simone Stahringer (second from left) with her friends at the German Dinner
Felix Autenrieth gives an animated presentation on German culture
Happy diners at the German dinner