Matthias Schumann/THE POST Ikuo Oka of Japan, Rafael Clever of Brazil and Pey-Fen of Taiwan share feelings about their experiences being new to the United States and Athens. International students and their friends can meet every Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 in Voigt Hall for "Coffee Hour," sponsored by Athens Friends of International Students.

Dumping the goods and setting up camp for the next three quarters is how Ohio University life generally begins.

It is a pain driving from Cleveland or Columbus or wherever - via U-Haul or the parents' minivan, overflowing with every necessary gadget, piece of furniture and the omnipresent plastic crate.

However, for 7 percent of the student body, moving involves things like jet lag and visas and is altogether more complicated.

According to International Student and Faculty Services, there are more than 1,000 international students at OU, and approximately 280 of them are new. Many of them arrived in the United States just days prior to the start of classes.

Dineke Sandars, 21, of the Netherlands, experienced her first airplane ride three weeks ago and is studying at OU for the quarter. She does not claim to be here because of a lifelong fascination with American culture or because she heard what an amazing place Athens is back in her favorite hangouts in Amsterdam

"I got bored in the Netherlands. It's so small," she said. "I do live near Amsterdam, which is a big city with a big center and lots of clubs. On the other hand, campus life here is totally different," she said, referring to OU's isolated campus within a vast country that has about 18 times as many people as her native land.

Sandars described her first week of journalism and history classes at OU as "more like high school." She said one of the biggest differences she has noticed is there is an incredible array of facilities and services - none of which come free.

"People here pay a lot of money. I think it's crazy because then lots of people don't have the opportunity to study. When you have extensive support programs it's OK, but it isn't there. But if you do have the money, you have everything."

Still, she said she is enjoying Athens and OU by meeting Americans and other international students.

Jane Palmer, president of the Athens Friends of International Students, helps foreigners ease the transition.

"In some cultures, you don't just say, 'Hey! I want to know you!' like in America. So with AFIS, we connect community members to international students," Palmer said, clearing away crumbs and putting away tables at the close of the weekly "International Coffee Hour" in Voigt Hall's lobby. There, dozens of international students, including Sandars, wore nametags with their country of origin and mingled for an hour.

Kana Nishihara, 21, of Japan, has been at OU since spring, taking the Ohio Program of Intensive English.

"Before I came here I thought America was so dangerous. I am just a little bit scared sometimes, but I think Athens is safe."

And as for the "cultural" delights of Court Street, Nishihara said she was puzzled by American students' obsession with alcohol. "Why do Americans only drink? They go to the bars and drink and drink."

Sandars, on the other hand, comes from a country where one can walk into the local "coffee shop" and freely purchase a marijuana joint of choice, making Court Street look, perhaps, a little more like Sesame Street.

"I think America in general is more conservative, but in Athens, it's hard to get in touch with the 'real world,'" she said.