Earlier this month, ULM alumnus Eric Liew pledged a personal donation of $1 million for the construction of an international student center.

The million dollar man

When Liew arrived from Malaysia 30 years ago, he wasn’t sure what to expect. He walked to a supermarket to buy a few groceries. But when he made it to his room, he discovered that he didn’t have a refrigerator.

“If I had a place like I’m about to build, I wouldn’t have had to put hot dogs and milk in the snow,” said Liew. “I understand how international students feel.”

Liew wants international students to have a place to go and hopes this project will help recruit more to ULM.

Students from around the world

Nabin Timilsina arrived at ULM from Nepal over three years ago and always felt welcome.

“I never had a feeling that I was international,” said Timilsina. “I never had any negative experiences.”

But it’s not always like that for everyone and Timilsina, a senior biology major and president of the International Student Society, believes that the international student center is a very important project.

Timilsina said, “If an international student comes here and doesn’t know where to go, nobody is here, then we have that place for him or her.”

Timilsina also thinks the center will be a great place where American and international students can share their cultures and ideas.

“A lot of international students come here with a dream. They come thousands of miles way from home,” Timilsina said.

Timilsina hasn’t been home since he first arrived American and said he would want to go back to Nepal right now to see his mom, family and friends.

“But the thing is, the situation is different for international students. We pay a little more money than local students here. Our expenses are high. When you fly back home, our travel expenses are almost three to four thousand dollars minimum,” Timilsina said.

According to Timilsina, many international students don’t go back home until they graduate.

“They come here with a reason and a dream. And the fact that they stay way from family encourages them to pursue their dreams,” said Timilsina. “I think that’s what happened with Mr. Liew. He came here with a reason. He had nothing and he worked hard. Now he’s a man with money and power. Now he’s giving it back to the people who are right now in the stage where he was.”

“I came here with nothing, too,” said Timilsina. “Maybe I can be a millionaire. I’m just kidding.”

Freshman biology major Zinaida Osipova is in her second semester and said it was hard to adapt from the differences between America and Russia.

“Like the need for a car and different study environment, but Americans in the south are especially nice which made it easier,” said Osipova.

When Osipova arrived she went to check out the area around ULM and realized that the only shops within a walking range were gas stations.

“It was a bummer that I need a car to even go buy groceries because in Russia grocery stores are pretty much everywhere and you can walk,” Osipova said.

Osipova still doesn’t have a car and doesn’t think she’ll ever have one. She has to depend on friends, which she often finds difficult.

“Having an opportunity to go somewhere is very important especially when you just arrived and don’t know anyone, but you need to buy some stuff and food,” said Osipova. “Even students who’ve been in Monroe for a while will definitely find it helpful to have somewhere to go when you need to go to the mall or buy groceries.”

Osipova remembers the little anxiety she felt when she first arrived and believes it’s great that an alumni wants to help international students.

“He knows what it is to be one, and it is very nice of him to want to improve the environment for us,” said Osipova. “It’ll be easier for future international students to adapt to Monroe life since they’ll have an opportunity to communicate with others at the building and get advice from those who’ve already lived here.”

Diana Ndunda, a senior toxicology major from Kenya, also said it took a while to get used to Monroe. But once she got settled in, she found her place among the student body.

Ndunda said, “My most positive experience here has been meeting all the amazing people and not just those from America but even those from other parts of the world.”

Though sometimes Ndunda finds herself overcome with extreme homesickness.

It’s sad to miss out on monumental things in the lives of friends and family back home, but it’s the sacrifice you make,” Ndunda said.

Ndunda finds the idea of an international student center to be hugely beneficial for people like her.

“I think Mr. Liew is a good example of former international student who has made the best of the opportunities offered to him,” said Ndunda. “I’m grateful that he still remembers his struggles and empathizes with the plight of international students…”

Many international students believe this center will be able to provide comfort for them since the transition between life at home and university life in America is not always an easy one.

The home base

The center will provide transportation donated by Interstate Dodge owner John Klagholz.

It will be equipped with a kitchen, meeting rooms, short-term lodging and socializing space. According to Liew, construction is set to begin this year and there is currently a process of forming a sub-committee to make decisions. He hopes to have the center completed by the end of this year.