International students ended their second week of the spring semester with a blend of music, games and food at the Wesley Foundation on Friday. The party was organized by the Wesley Foundation to welcome new and returning international students.

There were more than 50 attendees from ten different countries at the Mardi Gras-themed event.

Momo Tokumasu spent her time at the party making new friends and learning about Mardi Gras.

“We answered questions related to Mardi Gras. I didn’t get any prize, but it was fun,” Tokumasu said.

The Freshman is an exchange student from Japan. She was glad she her slice of King cake didn’t have the baby in it. Tokumasu plans to go to New Orleans for Mardi Gras along with her American friends this February.

Being a student from a different city, Derry Jones had a rough time getting used to ULM. Now an alumna, Jones shared that the event was organized to “ease the transformation process of the international students in a new land.”

The event surely did help first time freshmen like Rex Acharya from Nepal.

“I have been really busy for the last few days getting familiar with a completely new academic exercise, and this party just came like an elixir to my life,” said Acharya, freshman computer science major. “I have met and come to know so many people today.”

The Wesley Foundation has been involved with the international body on campus for many years. They frequently organize parties and retreats for the international students.

“We have been working to help people in need. In that quest, we have been to different parts of the world. Honestly, we love international students, and we want them to have a good time,” Kristi Gadwa said.

According to Gadwa, director of missions and outreach of the Wesley Foundation, the welcome party was one of the many events they have planned for the semester.