Hello Everyone, Here is the fourth edition. The information in the email will also be available through CSGO web site at http://pollux.usc.edu/~csgo 1. EGSA + CSGO events comming up -Ice Cream Social ====> Oct 19, 2005 ===> If you would like to attend the event, RSVP to csgo@usc.edu by 5pm Oct 18, 2005 with subject "2nd IceCream Social" Students who RSVP will be eligible to participate in the raffle. Location: Outside SAL Time: 3PM-3:30PM -Disneyland Trip(Joint with EGSA) (Oct 22, 2005) If you would like to attend the trip, drop an email to csgo@usc.edu with the subject - Disneyland Trip Funded by GPSS, EGSA, CSGO. -Halloween Scare Event (Joint event with CSGO) (Oct 31, 2005 4:30-5:30pm) Dress your best to scare the rest. We will have lots of prizes to give away including best costume, scariest costume etc. and FREE FOOD as usual! ===> If you would like to attend the event, RSVP to csgo@usc.edu by 5pm Oct 22, 2005 with subject Haloween Scare Event If you would like to help us organize the event, drop us an email at csgo@usc.edu Location TBA. RSVP csgo@usc.edu by 5pm Oct 22, 2005 We will also be having elections for the 2 open board positions. If you would like to contest for these positions, drop us an email. - CSGO Elections Want to make a difference ? Join CSGO. We have the following open board positions: Vice President (Programs) ISA Representative If you would like to contest for an open position, send us an email at csgo@usc.edu Funded by ISA, Program Board, GPSS, CSGO. Supported by EGSA -Fall Dance Fest (Joint event with CSGO and other organizations) Location: Ground Zero Details: Nov 6, 2005 (6:30pm-11:30pm) We are looking for talented performers and volunteers who can help us schedule the event and make it a success. The event will include dance performances, songs, and several other things along with dinner. If you would like to help us organize the event, drop us an email at csgo@usc.edu Funded by ISA, Program Board. Supported by CSGO, AIS, CSSA, EGSA. -IX CSGO Chess Tournament is under way. Details: http://pollux.usc.edu/~csgo/Chess/ - International Food Fair (Nov 16) Organized by Int'l Students Assembly and we(CSGO) will be participating in it. We need volunteers to help us set up the booth, and serve the food. Volunteers will get free Int'l food from several countries (15+). We also have place for performers in case someone is interested in performing some traditional performance from their country. If you would like to help us organize the event, drop us an email at csgo@usc.edu - EGSA organizes programs like Movie Nights, Ski-trips, EGSA Banquet and many more events. All these events need time, organization and management. We are in the process of forming a Programming Committee (by Programming we don.t mean coding ;) ). It.s all about organizational skills which you may even need at work. So hop on the EGSA programming committees Interested individuals please email our VP Programs, Nazanin - nyaghoob@usc.edu. You can learn more about EGSA from the EGSA website: http://viterbi.usc.edu/egsa 3. Other On-Campus events comming up -EGSA General Meeting TSC Basement Oct 28, 2005 6pm -ISA Tailgate Nov 5 - Homecoming 2005 -Anything Goes, Monday, October 24th, 2005 at 8PM in McCarthy Quad (wacky games competition) -Tommy.s Tribute, Tuesday, October 25th, 2005 at noon at Tommy Trojan -Float Building/Homecoming Parade, Tuesday, October 25th at 6PM (Parade is Wednesday, October 26th at noon at Tommy Trojan). -Rally Thursday night (awards given out) ****** PARTICIPATE IN A NATIONAL SURVEY OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN A $50 GIFT CERTIFICATE! University of Southern California.s Office of International Services invites you to participate in a short survey studying the relationship between international students. attitudes toward a variety of contemporary issues. The purpose of the survey is to see if, and how, study in the US influences students. opinions on these topics. Our hope is that the results of the survey will accurately portray the impact that living in this country and participating in American society has on the attitudes of international students. Please understand that results will only be presented as representative of the larger groups and that we will protect your privacy. As you will see the survey is conducted in an anonymous manner. However for the results to be useful it is critical that you indicate your personal preference when completing the survey. We believe you will find the questions interesting. The survey will take less than 10 minutes to complete; additionally all respondents who wish to be included in a drawing for a $50 Amazon.com Gift Certificate and be able to view the survey results will be able to do so. Please participate today! The more people who complete the survey, the more accurate the results will be. To participate, click on the following: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=584661043875 To ensure confidentiality of all results, the survey is only available though this website. Dixon C. Johnson, Ph.D. Haiyan Lin Executive Director Graduate Research Assistant Office of International Services Rossier School of Education University of Southern California 300 Student Union Los Angeles, CA 90089-0899 Tel: (213) 740-2666 Fax: (213) 740-5194 e-mail: dixonjoh@usc.edu ****************** International Student Survey Attention: International Graduate Students If you started your program at USC this fall, you have the opportunity to participate in a study of international graduate students about reasons for attending a graduate program in the United States. All Master's and Phd students are eligible. What's involved? Go to this researcher's website and complete a 10 minute questionnaire. Participating students' names will be placed in a raffle and the prize is $100. There are two good reasons to participate. You might win the $100 and you are helping a fellow graduate student. The link to the survey is http://pirate.shu.edu/~rubycath/ Thanks for your warm wishes, Sincerely, Catherine Culliton Ruby ********************************** Thanksgiving Match-up: Do you want to make new friends while celebrating one of the most celebrated holidays in America? If your answer is yes, then we have the perfect solution for you. Thanksgiving Match up is one of the great programs that is offered by the Office of International Services which gives host families the chance to invite international students into their homes to celebrate thanksgiving together. This is a wonderful opportunity to help international students learn more about American culture and how Thanksgiving is celebrated in the United States. It also provides an amazing way to foster new friendships with many different people from all over the world. OIS International Program Assistants will match students with host families who fit them best, based from the applications from both parties. Students will then be ready to visit the host family.s house and share the deliciously prepared meal on Thanksgiving Day which falls on Thursday, Nov 25, 2004. OIS International Program Assistants really encourage you to participate in this amazing program. If you are interested in becoming a host family, applications are now available at OIS IPA office at STU 300 or fill out the online Host Application form. All student applications are due at OIS by Fri, Oct 25. Applications for host families will be received throughout November. We strongly suggest that you apply early to accommodate all match-up processes. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please feel free to contact Mimi or Haiyan in OIS in Student Union Building 300, call us at (213) 740 9742 or send us an email at thanksgiving_matchup2005@yahoo.com. ******************************* Going Home Workshop: An Interactive Cultural Reentry Workshop Have you stopped to think about how you have grown and changed while studying in the U.S. at USC? Do you wonder what it will be like to live and work at home? What kind of transition will you face when you move back home? The Going Home Workshop prepares you for: *creating strategies for cultural reentry *finding ways to integrate your overseas experience with your new life at home *your overall transition after living and studying abroad It is that time again. December 2005 grads are encouraged to attend any of the three workshops listed below. Wed. Oct. 26 Tue. Nov. 1 Wed. Nov. 9 Each workshop will be held at the Office of International Services at STU 300 from 6-7:30 pm. Please call (213)740-2666 to reserve your space. ******************************** Dining Like a Diplomat: Dining Tips for the Job Interview When: Tuesday, Nov. 1 Noon to 1:30 pm Learn how to dine professionally during a job interview Learn answers to these questions: *Which fork should I use? *Should I order a glass of wine with my meal? *What happens if I spill a piece of food off of my plate? Guest Speakers: Elaine Morris, Career Planning and Placement Center and Laurie Cox, Office of International Services Attendance is by pre-registration only. This program features a four course luncheon and therefore you must be available to attend this program in its entirety or you may not register for the program this semester. We regret having to insist on this limitation, but it is very important to the presentation. In the spirit of this event, please wear business casual attire. This program is practical, educational, intercultural and a lot of fun. Only 20 students may pre-register for this event. Cost is $10 per person. We expect this program to "sell out" very quickly as it did last semester. Pre-registration begins at 3:30pm today. You must have $10 cash or check with you to pre-register in person at the Office of International Services at Student Union 300. If you do not attend the luncheon after reserving your place, we regret that the $10 cannot be refunded to you. Comments from two students who attended this workshop last year: .Thank you again for the wonderful experience from Dining like a Diplomat workshop today. You and Elaine did an excellent job.. "Dining like a diplomat" is something I think every international student should attend at least once. Coming from varied international cultures, it is extremely crucial for us to learn the American culture. This program includes a four course lunch which includes beverage, rolls and butter, soup, entree and a delicious dessert. When you sign up please, advise us whether you would like the Asian Chicken Salad, Cobb Salad (chicken avocado and bacon) or Greek Salad (Vegetarian option). **************************** International Diner.s Club Events Hamburgers, cheeseburgers, double-cheeseburgers, triple-cheeseburgers, tacos, big tacos, monster tacos, spicy monster tacos. Is there anything better to eat here in Los Angeles? Yes, there is!!! And the International Diners. Club will take you there! The International Diners. Club is a program organized by the Office of International Services. Our mission is to introduce all students to the customs, history, and culture of a diverse set of countries through food. During the course of the semester, we will be taking you to various ethnic restaurants, right here in Los Angeles. We not only focus on all the different flavors of international cuisine that Los Angeles has to offer, but also on what we can learn from the dishes. The International Diners. Club takes great pride in introducing students to different cuisines from all over the world, so we only choose the best of the best restaurants available in the Los Angeles area. Please come join us and together we can live to eat, not just eat to live. The schedule for our Fall 2005 events is as follows: Iranian cuisine . Friday, Oct. 21, 2005 (The Cannery, in Santa Monica, CA) Chilean cuisine . Friday, Nov. 4, 2005 (TBA) Armenian cuisine . Friday, Nov. 18, 2005 (TBA) The meeting time for all of our events will be 5:30 p.m. To sign up, please come to STU 300 or contact us by E-mail. If you have any questions or suggestions regarding the International Diners. Club, feel free to contact David or Luis by E-mail at uscdinersclub@gmail.com or by phone at (213) 740-9742. ******************************* International Delights are on the World Café Menu This fall, World Café opens its doors and welcomes you to discover a delicious array of international ice cream flavors, the modern pop culture of the Middle East, and the world of dance, music and food of India On October 20, World Café opens your eyes and appetites to the world of international ice cream, featuring an interactive ice cream-making demonstration, along with a varied range of global flavors for you to try, perhaps for your very first time!! Please join us behind Topping Student Center (nearest Carl.s Junior) from 3-5pm. We will set up at tables near the big tree. Bring your friends! Our next World Café, on November 3, welcomes you to experience the pop culture of the Middle East, covering a range of interesting topics, from pop music, fashion and food to relationships, dating and family life. Location: Tommy.s Place (Basement TSC) On November 10, World Café India will invite you to learn the steps of a traditional dance from India and show you how to prepare Samosas, Pakoras and the drink Mango Lassi. Our presentation will include various styles of Indian dances, with instruction in the North Indian dances of Garbah or Dandia, and we hope to show a film clip of an Indian dance party or festival. Location: Tommy.s Place (Basement TSC) Please join us for our upcoming World Café events: Thursday, October 20, 2005: Ice Creams around the World Thursday, November 3, 2005: Pop Culture in the Middle East Thursday, November 10, 2005: India: Pleasures of the Indian Palate Locations: TBA World Café is a great opportunity for participants to sit back and discuss their perceptions of the world, and learn more about the global perspective while meeting and making new friends. For more information, please call (213) 740-9742 and ask for Moni or David. You may also email us at: uscworldcafe@hotmail.com **************************************** Job Search Workshop International Students are encouraged to attend one of these Job Search Strategies workshop offered this semester: Wednesday, Oct. 19 2:00-3:00 pm STU-B3 Thur. Nov. 17, 2:00-3:00 pm STU-B3 Thursday, Dec. 1 10:00-11:00am STU-B3 Guest speakers: Elaine Morris, Assistant Director and Senior Career Counselor, Career Planning and Placement Center Laurie Cox, Associate Director, Office of International Services Please call the CPPC at (213)740-9111 to reserve your space. Each workshop is on the same topic so students need only attend one of these workshops. ************************************ USC INFORMATION SESSIONS IN INDIA - OCTOBER 15-22, 2005 We are pleased to announce that USC Electrical Engineering Professor and Senior Associate Dean Cauligi Raghavendra and Associate Dean Margery Berti are hosting information sessions on engineering graduate degrees and research opportunities at the University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering. In addition, Associate Dean Professor Thomas Hollihan will hold information sessions on graduate study and research opportunities at the USC Annenberg School for Communication. We would appreciate it if current USC students from India will forward this information to their schoolmates and friends back home who might be interested in attending a FREE information session. Refreshments will be served. All prospective students are invited, whether they are just looking for information, or have already applied, or have been admitted. There is no cost or obligation for attending these events. For further information, and to register for an information session, please go to http://viterbi.usc.edu/india --- Viterbi School of Engineering http://annenberg.usc.edu/india --- Annenberg School for Communication ****************************************** 4. Call for volunteers and officers Programming Contest and Basketball/Soccer tournament CSGO is looking for volunteers who can help us organize the above events. If you would like to volunteer, send us an email at csgo@usc.edu . We would like to thank the following organizations for their support: ISA: International Students Assembly EGSA: Engineering Graduate Student Association GPSS: Graduate Professional Student Senate Visit us online at: http://pollux.usc.edu/~csgo Want to add an announcement, article, cartoons or anything else, just drop us an email at csgo@usc.edu Neeta Pandit Vice President, CSGO CS Senator - EGSA ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CSGO: Computer Science Graduate Organization EGSA: Engineering Graduate Student Association All CS Dept. graduate students are members of the two organizations as long as they are enrolled. We do not have any membership fees and all our events are free unless explicitly mentioned and open to all CS majors.