Lunch Circle for International Students: Love, Distance & Connection

Description

Staying on campus during Thanksgiving week? Join in a conversation about long-distance love—whether with family, friends, significant others, or pets. Come discuss how to maintain meaningful connections with loved ones while balancing academic and professional pursuits.

Lunch will be provided from Tamber's, which serves Indian food.

This event is hosted by Health Promotion and Well-Being.

Facilitator Information

Sherry Zhang is a staff member on the gender-violence prevention team of the Health Promotion & Well-Being Department. She practices trauma-informed social work and is a confidential resource for students who have concerns/questions related to gender-based violence. She had been an international student in the U.S. for five years before she came to Johns Hopkins.

What to Expect

In this circle, participants will explore the complex and layered nature of long-distance relationships with loved ones. Love is not a simple or one-dimensional emotion; alongside warmth and joy, it can coexist with feelings of guilt, stress, and anxiety.

While finding a balance between maintaining connections, meeting responsibilities, and pursuing personal growth, this is a space to talk about these complexities, connect with peers, and hold our feelings with care.

Restorative Circle Format

The restorative circle process used for this event is deeply rooted in the practices of Indigenous peoples, particularly from the Tagish and Tlingit Nations of North America. We honor this legacy and acknowledge the intention behind it: to foster healing and community building.

A circle is an inclusive and respectful approach to conversation that ensures everyone has the opportunity to speak and be heard. In this process, participants share their thoughts and feelings in response to a guiding question, following a specific talking order. While speaking is invited, listening is just as vital—everyone's presence and attentiveness are valued.