Even though Southern Illinois University’s international students are hundreds of miles away from home, one campus center wants to make sure they still feel as close to it as possible.

From Aug. 11 to Saturday, SIU’s Center for International Education held a welcoming week specifically aimed at introducing students to Carbondale. One highlighted activity included Saturday’s International Picnic, which gave them a U.S. welcome by taking them to the International Grocery store and informing them about places they can visit to receive health care, ensure security or make friends.

More than 1,300 international students attend the university, and more than 100 countries are represented.

George Sheffer, the owner of True Value in Carbondale, hosts the barbecue every year at Murdale Shopping Center. The event is held on a Saturday so the students can visit the Farmers Market, shop and meet fellow students, said Elaine Conrad, community and educational programs coordinator for the Center of International Education.

One hundred of the university’s 300 new international students attended the Saturday barbecue, Conrad said.

Many students enjoyed the outing, including Yu Sakuraba, a freshman from Japan studying agriculture.

“My department is agriculture, so I really enjoyed the Murdale Farmers Market and to see farmers here in the United States,” she said.

Sakuraba said the students enjoyed the day as they surveyed the shopping center and made friends.

Students also ate lunch with Chancellor Rita Cheng Saturday and had the opportunity to chat with her. She welcomed the students to the university and offered her best regards as they begin their academic career at SIU.

“I and the Chamber of Commerce welcome you,” Cheng said. “I wish the best to you in the rest of the semester.”

Conrad said students were encouraged to attend as many of the week’s scheduled activities as possible, which also included a campus trolley tour, city walk and Morris Library tour.

“The events are an opportunity for international students to come and relax and have a good time shopping and get idea of what we have here for them, so they can get adjusted to the community,” Conrad said.