Students who attended the Office of Global Engagement (OGE)’s coffee hour event were able to win free prizes, get free Starbucks coffee, learn more about studying abroad and even get a flu shot.

The event was overseen by Assistant Director of International Education (IE) Cynthia Weil and International Adviser for the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) Petra Knoche. This was the OGE’s second coffee hour this semester, and the final one until the winter semester.

The event featured four student volunteers — two who helped distribute the coffee and sweets while answering questions, and two who asked trivia questions to students for a chance to win prizes like t-shirts and frisbees.

Of the student volunteers was Juan Martin Davila, an international student from Ecuador who is studying abroad at Oakland University to obtain a master’s degree in business administration. Davila works with OGE and IE as a study abroad student adviser.

“This event is really good for students because everybody enjoys learning about international things, and the questions are regarding to our programs,” he said. “I think it’s really good to encourage people to know about things from the exterior.”

Matthew Yarrish helped with the questionnaire and gift table alongside Davila. This was Yarrish’s third event, the other two being the study abroad fair and a tabling event.

“I think it’s a lot of fun — it’s different than the other [events],” Yarrish said. “[It’s] fun asking questions and seeing what they’ll say.”

The OGE works with IE to bring global visibility to OU and help raise awareness for study abroad opportunities. Students often have questions or concerns about the price of studying abroad, and both organizations work to provide information on things like scholarships. 

The other volunteers — Ann Marie Falor, who studied abroad in Portugal, and Sarah Smyth, who studied abroad in Italy — spent time alongside Weil at the other table distributing snacks like donuts and Cold Stone ice cream. Common questions asked pertained to funding for studying abroad and the volunteers’ experiences. 

Yarrish studied abroad in Italy this summer, and said it was a “great experience,” and he would “one hundred percent do it again.” Davila said while studying abroad here at OU he has made a lot of friends and has been working with a lot of good people. 

He went on to say his favorite part of working with OGE is he can tell people his experience.

“A lot of people haven’t gotten out of Michigan,” Davila said, “[…] so it’s beautiful to let them know that they’re able to do that and the experience is worth it and these are life changing experiences.”

Students can find more information about studying abroad on IE’s webpage. The next study abroad event will be the Pre-departure Orientation Meeting on Nov. 12.