When Jusik Min, junior international major from South Korea, first came to Emporia, a lot of his floormates asked him where he was from. But, according to him, they also asked him odd questions like, “Do you know a lot of martial arts?”

To encourage communication between native and international students at Emporia State, the Office of International Education is hosting an open forum called, “Don’t Be Shy, Ask Me Why” from 3-4 p.m. tomorrow in Plumb Hall, room 408.

Min said he thinks the question forum is a good idea especially because it will feature students from other countries, as well as from America.

“I personally have a lot of questions to ask Americans like, ‘Is it pop or soda, or soda pop?’” Min said. “There are a lot of new things in America,”

Larissa Bell, freshman elementary education major, said she thinks the student forum will give people from different nationalities a chance to “find similarities that will create a bridge between our differences.”

International students can feel bombarded with questions about their homeland.

“When I first moved into the dorms and started my classes, I was asked so many questions it was crazy,” said Yasmeen Ibrahim, freshman undecided major from Egypt. “People see you are from another country and assume that your life was so much more interesting than theirs, so they ask a lot of questions.”

Ibrahim said coming to Emporia was intimidating until he began to meet new people and was given the chance to ask questions. He said that the forum might be able to help other international students who are still adjusting to ESU.

“I think that this forum is a good idea because the other international students who aren’t comfortable yet can still ask questions,” Ibrahim said.

The student forum is open to any and all students, and both international and native students are strongly encouraged to attend.