USD Magazine, Summer 1999

Dominguez spent the past four summers in San Diego working for telecommunications giant Qualcomm. When he decided to leave a Venezuelan engineering college to earn a degree in the United States, it was only a matter of which uni– versity in San Diego. That's when fate stepped in. Overhearing two women in a San Diego taco shop talking about a small, Catholic campus, Dominguez politely made his way into the conversation, only to discover they were discussing USD. Everything fell into place. "The beach is right here, just like home, even though it's too cold for me," he says, shuddering as if he can feel the chilly Southern California waters. While religious affiliation is a comforting factor for many

Some scholarship money is available, primarily to interna– tional student-athletes who compete for funding alongside other athletes. The university currently boasts 25 international athletes, two of them standout Toreros for the 1998-99 sea– son: Petia Yanchulova, a volleyball player from Bulgaria, and Czech Republic native Zuzana Lesenarova, the No. 1 ranked collegiate tennis player in the United States. Scholarship winners are rare, though. Of the total tuition paid by the more than 300 foreign students, 81 percent is paid with personal funds. Ineichen, for example, continues to work as a buyer for his family's chain of 71 retail stores in Switzerland, which helps pay tuition and living expenses. Dominguez sold his car to finance his move to California and

___________works on campus as a lab assistant.

students, the spectrum of international students means there are a rainbow of spiritual traditions. Prospective international students understand they have the freedom to practice any religion, and Saudi Arabian, Indonesian, Japanese and Kenyan students are often drawn to USD by the reputation for a quality education and personal attention from Danya Alhamrani, a 25-year-old graduate student from Saudi Arabia, witnessed that person– al attention firsthand. When searching for a quiet prayer space for her daily Muslim prayers, Alhamrani was accommodated by Fontaine, who let her use her office. "We are responsible for their well-being," says Fontaine, explaining the philosophy adopted by the international resources staff. "This is their home away from home." professors and staff.

EASING INTO AMERICAN LIFE lneichen lives near the beach in a small house he rents alone, which suits the quiet, shy student just fine. But he always has room for visitors from home. It's difficult to go too long without home– made jam from mom, who makes the preserves for her son whenever she visits. Dominguez, who transferred to USD in January and lives on campus, already has enjoyed a visit from his mother. The South American's blues eyes shine when he describes a homemade bread baked with a special kind of flour his mom carried across international borders in her suitcase. Before starting school at USD, Alhamrani was lucky enough to spend several months in San Diego with her family. Adjusting to a new city with her loved ones near did little, though, to ease the pain of watching her parents and siblings board a plane to return to Saudi Arabia without her.

INTEREST ON THE RISE As USD steadily builds a national reputation,

word is also spreading in the international community about the university that focuses on teaching and community service. Due in large part to word of mouth, enrollment of internation– al students has tripled since 1985, reaching 363 this year. Prospective international students undergo the same application process as domestic students, with the exception of testing. They submit scores on the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), which gauges their English abilities, instead of the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test). International students arrive in the United States on a student visa and maintain that status for a year after graduation. It is not uncommon for international students to use that extra year to work in intern– ship positions.

"I went from the airport straight into Orientation Week," Alhamrani says. "It's a good thing I was thrown into all that activity." After 15 years as director of international resources, Fontaine knows exactly how a good orientation program can ease the transition for overseas students. She initiated a team of volunteers several years ago specifically to work with incoming international students. This year, Ineichen, Dominguez and Alhamrani are Orientation Week team mem– bers who will run seminars about everything from campus life to finding an apartment to obtaining medical insurance. Brochures and a Web site guide international students on how to buy a car, activate gas and electricity and open a bank account.