Meeting their PAL

"We tried to get along with each other to be a real friend, so it was great to meet my PAL."

--Korean PAL

"I got a greater understanding of Thai and Chinese culture. I had no former knowledge,and my PAL and I talked at length about her country (Thailand), and ancestry (China)."

--US PAL

The PALS activities

"I think having the coffee hour helped a lot because I was able to talk to not just my own

PAL, but others and learn about other cultures. Plus, I basically had the "real

deal" right in front of me so I got to understand a lot better other cultures instead of just

reading a textbook and learning."

--US PAL

"It was really nice to me because I could get the chance to make new friends and see

traditional Texan culture...It was a good chance for me to make friends even though I

was not matched with any PAL."

--Korean PAL

Their cross-cultural experience

The program is excellent, it really helped me feel more comfortable in this culture because

I had a new friend, who is a native speaker, and I could ask him whatever I need to know

about the country and the culture. Soon I am going back to Chile and I can say that I am

really going to miss my weekly meetings with my PAL. Thank you very much to the

coordinators and keep going on with the program, it is really useful!

-- Chilean PAL (Fall 2002)

"PALS Program is a wonderful program. It has done a lot of things for the international

students. I do appreciate the program". (Fall 2002) "I think international students have

many difficulties to meet American people. Moreover, it's interesting to the American

people because they can know other cultures without travelling."

--Spanish PAL

"We can meet many friends coming from many countries through the PALS Program. Through

the opportunity of meeting those, I could broaden my understanding of other cultures."

--Korean PAL

"The PALS Program gave me a greater understanding of what foreign students go through at UT."

--US PAL

"Although I am a Latina, I have seen that not all Latinos are alike. There are so many huge

differences between each and every one of us. Although we share a common tongue,

we have so many different customs. I'm more American than I thought."

--US PAL

"I really wanted to get involved with an organization on campus, and this is a great first club

to join because I can get an automatic friend and there is not a huge time commitment."

-- US PAL

"I really had a great time in this program because I got to meet someone I probably never

would have met. Learning about another culture is so interesting, and I also feel that I

helped my PAL to understand American culture a little better."

-- US PAL

"I have really enjoyed getting to know my PAL and practice speaking Spanish. It has also

been helpful to come in contact with a spanish speaker who isn't from Mexico,

so I can practice listening to different accents."

--US PAL