International students mean the world to host
By Rachel Haynie

Lou Brooks holds the wedding reception for Liang Ru and Guohua Sha in her library, January 28, 1996.

Lou Brooks was recently recognized with a lifetime achievement award, the first the Columbia Council for Internationals organization has ever given.

Brooks, a retired banker, had always loved to travel and learn new things, so when Mary Wise, a friend from church, told her about CCFI, she tuned in. "Mary said she thought I would make a good community host," recalled Brooks, whose casual entertaining style was reputedly gracious.

Being a community host to a University of South Carolina international student traditionally has meant making a solid connection, being the student's local point person. Helping them become oriented to Columbia, and hosting them for meals and special occasions has been the expectation of those who volunteer.

Brooks, knowing from her own travels how lost one can feel on unfamiliar turf, was willing to help create a comfort zone for visitors to her hometown. Knowing that new friends studying disciplines she would like to better understand would be a window on the world, she opened her door and her heart. From the beginning Brooks went beyond the call of duty.

Zhipei Liu, now a violinist in Toronto, visited his host, Paul Berg, recently and gave a special concert. Attending the concert with Liu were Ruthy Patterson's two daughters and Lou Brooks, Paul Berg, and Berg's daughter Ruthy Patterson.

"My first student was Sun Sook Kim. War had prevented her from getting an education until she was an adult, and her goal when she came to USC was to earn a doctorate in English." Brooks recalled a few pep talks she gave the future college professor when she feared she would not receive her degree on schedule.

"In her culture advocating for herself was just not something a woman did, but after we talked she went back to her professors and asked them what she had to do to complete the requirements," said Brooks who is a USC alumnae. When Sun returned to her country with her credentials, she joined the faculty at Ewah University.

The two friends stayed in touch and in the late '70s, Brooks went to visit her. "For years I received an Ewah University calendar at Christmas time." Now retired, Sun is in her '80s. Brooks hasn't heard from her in a while. "I need to write her."

Bonds that endure long after graduation and span oceans don't happen with every international student and community host, but for Brooks it was usual. She still speaks of the Indonesian students she took to Disney, the Asian student who couldn't get enough collards the first time he tried them at her Christmas dinner table. "I always served typical American food," so the internationals could experience local customs.

In return, students shared their culture with her. "Sometimes they wanted to cook food from their homelands. Once a student wanted to try cooking an American Thanksgiving dinner for me in my kitchen. The turkey was dry, and the sweet potato souffl was bland, but we had a good time."

When one of her students decided to get married, Brooks gave the wedding, altered both the borrowed wedding gown and maid of honor's gown, then took the alterations back out before returning the dresses. The reception was in her living room.

Brooks has hosted students from Korea, Japan, China, India, and Greece. In time she chaired the committee that matches Columbians with students who request a community host. "I took any students left on the list."

Brooks moved through a number of CCFI committee positions, including president, then stayed in furnishings for a dozen years. The furnishings committee is by far the most physical and labor intensive. It involves gathering furniture donated, getting it to and from the warehouse, and keeping it organized while it's stored and while it's in use. Brooks was often sighted wheeling down Columbia streets, a mattress or piece of furniture lashed to her truck.

CCFI makes furniture, household items, and linens available to international students who need them. Items are returned when students graduate. "Taking care of the linens was especially time consuming," said Brooks, who has now turned that job over to another board member. "I spent most Sunday afternoons and evenings, laundering, ironing, labeling, and wrapping linens in clear dry-cleaner bags my brother saved for me."

Brooks spent many years working in tandem with Claude Huguley, another board member and truck owner. Both have now retired from the board.

Brooks' lifetime achievement award from CCFI is not her first recognition. The career banker received the first annual Community Volunteer Award given by Region VII of the National Association of Foreign Students Association, and another tribute from the Association of International Educators.

Now Brooks is hard at work re-organizing her scrapbooks that bulge with pictures and other memorabilia. As she recounts the stories behind each one, it's clear these international students she befriended were - and are - like family to her.

For information about becoming involved with CCFI, go to www.columbiacfi.org/area.htm