Supper Clubs at Virginia Tech
About
Supper Club is an opportunity to expand your cross-cultural knowledge, make new friends, and have fun. You can experience what a home in the United States feels and looks like. Hosts are volunteers from a local church. They are excited to invite international students/scholars to their home for an activity or meal 2-3 times this summer. You and 1-3 other students will be paired with a host home for the entire summer. Hosts and international guests will meet each other at the Kick-Off supper held at an outdoor shelter at the Blacksburg Municipal Park.After the Kickoff supper, you will have two-3 activities or meals with your hosts in June, July, and August.
Supper Club is an opportunity to expand your cross-cultural knowledge, make new friends, and have fun. You can experience what a home in the United States feels and looks like. Hosts are volunteers from a local church. They are excited to invite international students/scholars to their home for an activity or meal 2-3 times this summer. You and 1-3 other students will be paired with a host home for the entire summer. Hosts and international guests will meet each other at the Kick-Off supper held at an outdoor shelter at the Blacksburg Municipal Park.After the Kickoff supper, you will have two-3 activities or meals with your hosts in June, July, and August.
Supper Club Expectations
- Students must attend the Kick-Off event to participate in Supper Club.
- Students will continue involvement by attending the 2 in-home meals on the designated dates.
- Students are responsible to arrange transportation to their host home.Host families can help with transportation if necessary.
- Communication back and forth between host and students/scholars is required before each meal.
- Students who cancel the whole semester after signing up forfeit the privilege to participate the following semester. Students who miss 2 or more dinners forfeit the privilege to participate the following semester.
Important Dates
The Kick-Off Dinner is where you will meet your hosts
Saturday, September 18 6:00-7:30 pm
In-home meals at your assigned host's home.
The Kick-Off Dinner is where you will meet your hosts
Saturday, September 18 6:00-7:30 pm
In-home meals at your assigned host's home.
- Saturday, October 24 or Friday, October 23
- Saturday, November 21 or Friday November 20 (optionally Thanksgiving or December 4,5)
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the Kick-Off? This will be a large group gathering, including all the hosts and students involved in Supper Club for the semester. You will meet your hosts and the 1-3 other students in your host home. Dinner will be provided.
What happens at an in-home meal? Expect a meaningful cultural exchange among you, the other international students, and your hosts. You will not only learn about other cultures, but you will get to share from your own experience. Each host home may look a little different but generally you will share a meal together while talking and getting to know one another. We hope that over the course of the semester you will find new friends and feel cared for.
What time of day are the in-home meals? Typically the meal is supper, but it could be breakfast, lunch, or supper. Your host will give you the exact time when you meet and communicate with them. Expect to spend around 2-3 hours at your host's home.
Who are the hosts? A host home can look different. It could be a married couple, it could be a family with children, it could be roommates, or it could two or three friends. They are local volunteers in the Blacksburg (and surrounding) area who love serving and hosting internationals in their home They consider themselves followers of Jesus and attend local churches that we, ISI at VT, partner with. They are thrilled to have you in their home!
What if I have an emergency? We want to stress that your commitment to Supper Club must be a priority over hanging with friends or other events. We have limited space in Supper Club and we want to reserve it for people who are genuinely interested in this dynamic cross-cultural experience. Please schedule group meetings, meetings with your professors, and other activities around the dates and times of Supper Club. The host is making preparations to host you as a guest and it would be considered rude to not show up. If you feel that you cannot attend one of the meals with your host because of an emergency, please contact your host immediately. If they, and the other students in your home are flexible, the date of the meal may be able to be changed to accommodate your need. Regardless of whether the date can be changed we ask that you respect your host by letting them know you cannot attend so that they are aware.
How much does this cost?
This is free!
How will I get to my host home?
Your hosts are generously offering a meal and an evening in their home to you. We ask that if possible you find a way to get to your host's home if they are in the Blacksburg area. This could be riding with other students who have a car and are assigned to your host home or it could be public transportation. Your host may offer to take you back to your home after the meal. If your host is outside Blacksburg they will be providing you a ride unless you indicate that you have transportation. You and your host will discuss transportation at the Kick-off meal.
Where is Northstar Church Office (the Spring 2020 location, Fall 2020 location TBD)?
Address: 200 Country Club Dr SW Ste D1, Blacksburg, VA
It is near the South Main BT (Blacksburg Transit) bus route about a block from the South Main Krogers.
Address: 200 Country Club Dr SW Ste D1, Blacksburg, VA
It is near the South Main BT (Blacksburg Transit) bus route about a block from the South Main Krogers.
Northstar office location
Ministry Center door is on back of building
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