International students may choose to stay on campus during the summer because they want to finish their programs as soon as possible, but also because flights to get home may be very expensive, said Megan Hofer, International Student Adviser.

"They want to have the opportunity to travel around the state or country since summer courses are not required,” Hofer said. “The OIA (Office of International Affairs) provides a couple of trips each summer that international students can join.”

This year they have taken students to a Great Lakes Loons baseball game, to Silver Lake for Mac Wood’s Dune Rides, and to the beach in Pentwater. In August, Hofer said students will have the opportunity to stay in Mackinac City for the night.

“We really want to make sure they have the opportunity to see the beautiful places we have in Michigan that are only a couple of hours away," she said.

This summer, Shakib celebrated the Fourth of July with friends for the first time.

“Me and my friends went to the fireworks,” Shakib said. “It was amazing. This was the first time I actually celebrated it. Michigan is really nice in the summer.”

During the week, Shakib hangs out with friends who are also staying on campus during the summer and he also works in the Office of International Student Affairs. Some weekends he visits his sister at Michigan State University, as he admits to missing having his family close by.

“It takes a while to fit in,” Shakib said. “When you have your parents around you have a sense of protection. Back home even if we go to college we still (live at) home. The part I miss is having my parents around me.”

Omer Aldossiry, of Riaidh, Saudi Arabia, is pursuing a degree in construction management. Aldossiry chooses to stay in Michigan every summer for classes, and because it is easier to stay in Mount Pleasant than risk having his visa expire if he goes home for an extent of time.

“I have heard stories of a lot of students having one or two semesters left to go, and they did not get it (the visa),” Aldossiry said. “The risk is just not worth taking. I want to continue my study and not lose my future.”

Aldossiry, 24, takes extra classes in the summer, and he enjoys picking up other languages by watching TV shows from other countries in his spare time. He is currently trying to master Japanese.

“If you have a passion for it, that is the main reason to learn it,” Aldossiry said. “American friends are not interested in learning a new language. They say it is too late--they always make excuses. If you want it, you will get it.”

Duha Hamed, of Amman, Jordan, came to CMU in order to pursue her Ph.D in mathematics. The 32-year-old previously attended the University of Jordan for both her master’s and bachelor’s degrees.

“I had a dream to finish my Ph.D.,” said Hamed.

Hamed’s husband Ehab is a pharmacist. The two have been married for 10 years, and they live in Mount Pleasant with their 7-year-old twin boys, Osama and Samir.

She likes being at CMU because Hamed never thought after having kids she was going to be able to continue her education.

“Life changed. I had this opportunity,” Hamed said. “Coming here being an exchange student, being a wife, being a mother in a new environment is not an easy adjustment.”

After having some bad days, Hamed said she has grown to love Mount Pleasant, describing her relationship with the city as a “love story.”

"We love summer, because summer for us means gardening,” Hamed said. “We go to the library downtown. It’s a quiet place. (The) kids enjoy being connected to the nature. A city is just traffic, noise, speedy life. Here I am trying to teach them just to enjoy the nature.”

Hamed and her family are involved with members of the Muslim community in Mount Pleasant. They meet at the Islamic Center almost everyday during Ramadan.

We just feel at home,” Hamed said. “Sometimes you miss being with a lot of people from your culture. Everything is available here, but you still miss some of the things such as the foods.”

For more information on the programs offered at CMU for international students, visit www.bit.ly/1K7JeZ0.