IFClub@UMD “your home away from Home” We welcome you to be part of our International Friends Club@University of Maryland! Join International Friends Club WhatsApp and receive weekly updates of events.
Fall 2025 upcoming events
Welcome party picnic: August 29th, 6:00-8:00pm at Graduate Hills, near volleyball court behind 3419 Tulane. Snacks, sweets, and lawn games. Join for some or all of the time. (cost free)
Friday Night IFC Dinners 7:15 PM Location 3828 University Blvd E, College Park, MD 20740 (Free)
- Sept 5 IFC Welcome – Thriving at UMD Student panel shares(8pm start)
- Sept 12 IFC Conversation Café
- Sept 19 IFC Conversation Café
- Sept 26 IFC Conversation Café
- Oct 3 IFC- Topic Investing
- Oct 10 IFC Conversation Café
- Oct 17 IFC Conversation Café
- Oct 24 IFC Conversation Café
- Oct 31 IFC Pumpkin Carving
- Nov 7 IFC Conversation Café
- Nov 14 IFC Thanksgiving Dinner
- Nov 21 IFC Conversation Café
- Nov 21 IFC Conversation Café
- Nov 28 No IFC
- Dec 5 IFC Christmas Party-Nativity
- Dec 12 IFC Exam Dinner
- Dec 19 IFC Christmas Songs & Dinner
Friday Night dinners and Conversation Cafe Location 3828 University Blvd E, College Park, MD 20740
Fall 2024
- August 30, Tips for Thriving at UMD
- Sept. 6, IFC Conversation Cafe
- Sept 20, Tech CEO-Success in US Corporation ANDRE YEE, Founder & CEO of Triblio, of a leading marketing tech company, where 2 UMD grads are were hired after meeting Andre at IFC. Prior to Triblio, he was Group VP at Oracle and he is a former international student from Malaysia.
- Sept. 27th, IFC Conversation Cafe
- October 4th. IFC Conversation Cafe
- October 11th NO IFC
- October 18th IFC Conversation Cafe
- October 25, Pumpkin Carving Competition
- November 1st, IFC Conversation Cafe
- November 8th, IFC Conversation Cafe
- November 15, Thanksgiving Celebration
- November 22nd and 29th, No IFC
- December 6, Christmas Cookie Party
- December 13th, No IFC
- December 20 IFC Christmas Dinner–Last IFC of 2024
Location 3828 University Blvd E, College Park, MD 20740
Spring 2024 IFC Events
Valentines Party Feb 9th (cost free)
Friday Night Dinners 7:15-9:00PM (Spring 202)
Friday Night Dinners – are an exciting time to share a meal with Americans and other international students play a group game and hear from a guest speaker or panel on a relevant topic or participate in conversation café. Meetings located at Maranatha 3828 University Blvd, College Park, MD. See dates below
Upcoming events
Friday Night Dinners 7:15PM
Feb 9 Valentine Party, 16, 23
March 1(no IFC), 8, 15 Easter Dinner, 22&29 (no IFC)
April 5,12,19,26 End of Year Party
A few Past Events
December 1, 8 7:00PM Christmas Party at Maranatha Enjoy traditional Christmas food and learn about America’s most Famous Holiday
Location for all dinners is Maranatha Fellowship (3828 University Blvd, College Park, MD.) Events are free
Friday Night Dinners – are an exciting time to share a meal with Americans and other international students play a group game and hear from a guest speaker or panel on a relevant topic or participate in conversation café. Meetings located at Maranatha 3828 University Blvd, College Park, MD.
Past Events-Spring 2022 IFC Friday Dinners
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2022 Friday night April 8th, Easter Celebration
Join and Experience the Easter traditions including traditional Easter foods
2022 April 1 Finding and Thriving on your internship
Hear from four recent UMD International Students who graduated about their internship experiences
2022 January 28th Dumpling Party Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year is one of the most popular holidays celebrated by Chinese around the world come and lean about this holiday and enjoy. You can sign up at this link: https://ccontacts.app/s/20151
2021 Friday November 12th Thanksgiving Dinner
Thanksgiving Dinner is here this Friday night November 12th. Thanksgiving is the most celebrated American holiday of the year. Experience an authentic Thanksgiving meal and hear about the meaning of this special holiday as our special speaker shares the history story of thanksgiving. Time is7:00PM-9:15PM. The cost is free. Please let us know if you can attend so we can plan for rides and food. The link to sign up is: https://ccontacts.app/s/20151 Space is limited so please sign up.
The location of the dinner is: 3828 University Blvd E, College Park, MD 20740 We meet in the Maranatha Fellowship building. Look for the signs to the entrance. If you need a ride we pick up from the Graduate Hills apartments leasing office, Greenbelt station apartments, second Circle from Greenbelt Road and Mcdonalds 8301 Baltimore Ave College Park. All pickups are at 6:40PM.
If you do not live near one of these locations, please txt Andre at 301.404.1757. Campus bus take the 116 purple bus to stop 14 very close to campus or take the shuttle to grad hills. Rides will be provided back to your apartments after the event.
2021 Fall Schedule below
August 25th 5:30 – 8:00 PM Welcome Interntional Student Picnic at Graduate Hills Apartment behind building 3417. The event is free. Come meet new international students have some food and play some lawn games. Click here to sign up.
Dinner in American home August 27,28 and 29. Click here it sign up
Friday Night Dinners – Starting Friday September 3rd. 7:00PM is an exciting time to share a meal with Americans and other international students and share about your experiences. Usually, there is a group game or an opportunity to hear from a guest speaker on a relevant topic or guest speaker from the corporate world. Meetings are held at Maranatha Located at 3828 University Blvd, College Park, MD. We use this building but are not affiliated with Maranatha Fellowship (large rooms are hard to find in College Park). Dates of Friday night dinners Sept 3, 10, 17, 24 October 8,15,22,29
IFC Friday Dinners Special events: November 12th Thanksgiving celebration, December 3rd Christmas party
Special Events this Fall – Check back as new events are often being posted
October 2nd Picnic behind Graduate Hills apartments 3:30-6:30PM. Near the volleyball court. Snacks and drinks will be provided.
Friday November 12th 7:00PMThanksgiving celebration at Maranatha. Explore the history of America’s most popular Holiday. Enjoy a free authentic Thanksgiving meal.
Friday December 3rd 7:00PM Christmas Party at Maranatha Enjoy traditional Christmas food and learn about America’s most Famous Holiday
More activiets will be posted soon
Activities from the past 2020-2021
Friday April 2nd. 8 – 9:15p
Learn about Easter and why Americans celebrate this holiday.
Friday, March 12th 8pm- 9:15pm
Speaker Scott Romberger, CFO, will share insights on: How to be successful in a US corporation and also, understanding the interview process from the perspective of the employer.
Feburary 12th, 8Pm-9:15PM,
How to Interview: Learn Real world tips from an expert in the interview process.
March 19th 8PM-9:15PM Learn what an employer is looking for in an interview and how to thrive on the job.
January 29th, 8PM-9:15PM Does God Answer Prayer—hear stories of International Students having prayer answered
Friday with Former ambassador: Jesoni Vitusagavulu
Join us Friday Nov. 6 on Zoom
Cron Gibson October 16:
Meet Cron, a professional counselor who is going to discuss the topic of procrastination and how to maintain a healthy emotional state.
Dr. Don Metzger October 23:
Entrepreneur and he will be speaking on the topic: “The Role of Startups in Business Innovation”
ANDRE YEE September 25
ANDRE YEE, Founder & CEO of Triblio, leading marketing tech company, where 2 UMD grads are currently working. Prior to Triblio, Group VP at Oracle. Former international student from Malaysia.
Topic: Networking & Finding a Job during difficult times like Covid – Learn from the life experience of this dynamic entrepreneur!
Photo competition conditions:
Early Thanksgiving November 13:
Early Thanksgiving Dinner this year will be Nov 13 – Learn about this important American holiday and enjoy traditional food.
Supper Club
Supper Club – popular activity matching small groups of students with American hosts. New groups to form when
in-person restrictions change. Sign up ahead of time.
Weekly Friday International Friends Club @UMD:
in 2020 We moved our weekly Friday dinner to Zoom in honor of UMD Covid 19 standards for social distancing. However we will email you an invitation for in person dinner as soon as the UMD standards change. We understand your concern and needs to communicate with us in person. We are working on making this option available.
English Class:
Weekly Conversational English Class on Tuesdays at 2 pm-3 pm. Come and practice speaking English and make new friends. To sign up for this class, please fill this form here. Questions contact: dana.andre@cru.org
Harpers Ferry Trip
