In the 2008-2009 academic year, more than 1,839 international students attended MU representing 101 different countries and 8 percent increase from the previous year.
With about 1,627 international students taking courses at MU in fall 2010, accommodations were made. Many international students take the opportunity to visit friends and family during winter break. For other students, like junior Matheus Souza from Brazil, the cost of the trip is the deciding factor.
“This year the plane tickets were especially expensive,” Souza said. “Last year I was able to buy a plane ticket to my hometown for $550, this year there were no tickets under $1,600.”
Souza was able to stay with friends who had offered him a place to stay, and did not have to stay in a residence hall. While in Columbia, he took the time to practice the violin, clean and eat at a friend’s house.
Campus Dining Services spokesman Andrew Lough said no dining halls are open during winter break, leaving international students to use their own resources.
“Dining plans are only in effect while the halls are open,” Lough said. “It isn’t fair to charge all students for meal service when a majority is not on campus, so we close these facilities.”
For the students who stay on campus, their options for meals include locations such as Mizzou Market and restaurants located around the campus.
“This varies by break and is adjusted to best fit the need of faculty, staff and students still on campus,” Lough said.
Other international students were able to go to their homeland during the month long break. Junior Benedict Sin spent winter break visiting his friends and family in China.
“I hadn’t gone back since December 2009 because I spent the summer in Maine, for a music camp, Boston and New York,” Sin said.
Sin said he was very happy to see his friends and family after being away for so long.
Residence hall options are limited during winter break, with South, Hawthorn, Galena, Dogwood and Defoe-Graham being the only residence halls open. These halls are not chosen at random, and have specific reasons to be kept open.
“One of our thematic learning communities attractive to international students (Pangaea) is located in Defoe-Graham, many of our sports teams that have games, events or practices over the break live in South or the mid-campus halls (Hawthorn, Galena, Dogwood, Defoe-Graham),” Director of Residential Life Frankie Minor said.
Proximity to the main office of Residential Life is also a determining factor of which residential halls stay open in case students need assistance, as well as proximity to Mizzou Market.
