Undergraduate Student Life (USL) and Columbia Dining invite you to join members of the Columbia family who will be on campus over the break to a Thanksgiving lunchon Thursday, November 23, 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. at John Jay Dining Hall! Join us for a traditional Thanksgiving meal in community with fellow students while connecting, reflecting and sharing traditions that take place at home.
Are you interested in learning the history of the Lower East Side with other international students? Want to try out different food from the Lower East Side, Little Italy, and Chinatown? If so, join International @ Columbia for this two-hour walking tour. During the course of our walking we will sample about 10 different items, representing the Dominican, Jewish, Italian and Chinese communities of the Lower East Side. Offerings will include vegetarian options.
We hope to include all class years in each ambassador group. Our fundamental goal is to connect people from different backgrounds and this includes age and class year. GAP is a learning and sharing experience for all members of the group - the premise of your ambassador group is an equal rather than a mentor-mentee relationship.
No, this is not a language exchange program. All programming will be conducted in English. However, there will be many opportunities to share elements of language and culture, and you may meet people with whom you can speak and/or practice many languages!
There are Columbia student clubs and other organizations in New York City that offer language exchange pairs. Please email international@columbia.edu if you would like to discuss some of your options.
Ambassadors are expected to participate in programs on Fridays (twice a month), sometimes as a large group and sometimes as a small peer-group. These meetings will typically last for about 75 minutes and start at 5:00 P.M. EDT. Additional optional programming like excursions may be added throughout the year. Participants who have been able to fully participate are more likely to feel that the GAP has been a positive experience for them.
Expected absences due to academic requirements can be discussed.
Yes! GAP is open to all CC and SEAS undergraduate students. You do not have to be an international student to apply to be a part of the program. Various perspectives make this program richer for all involved.
