Bridges at IU

Join us for international coffee hour! We just started an Alpha Course and it’s a great way to jump in and meet people from all over. Enjoy chai or coffee and breakfast and great conversation.

If you're an international student at IU, join us for the annual Christmas party. Check out the Instagram account or the mailchimp for details on how to register!

Been thinking about registering for Vision Conference in Denver, but wondering how to get there? Have we got a fun surprise for you. There is a Vision Conference charter bus leaving from Indianapolis for Denver. So join international students from IU, Purdue, and other universities for a great road trip out west! We have a small number of free spots left on the bus for IU students. You pay your conference registration (which also covers most meals) and bring a little spending money, and your transportation is fully covered. Because spots are limited, they are first come, first served. So register for the conference and then be sure to DM us here or talk to one of the Bridges staff to secure your place on the bus!!

If you have questions about the conference, DM us here or talk to one of the staff! And if you have friends at other universities who want to meet you at Vision Conference, let us know!

Good grief, we have some unfortunate news! Due to active covid cases among our Bridges staff team this week, we need to cancel the annual Farm Party. It pains us to do this, but student health and safety are among our high priorities! We know that classes are kicking in a bit more intensely this week and the last thing you need is to get sick and miss class. So with that in mind and so our Bridges staff can rest, recover, and quarantine, we are canceling the farm party.

If you were already registered for the party, be on the look out for an email with information too.

And if you haven't already checked out our Bridges site with more info on lots of things we're doing and offering this year, check it out. We'll post in the comments! And if this leaves you with a hole in your weekend plans, check out the IU football game and cheer on the Hoosiers!

Our staff will bounce back and be ready for some fall fun before you know it!

Okay, IU international students, the Lake Party is back! Join us for an afternoon in the dreamiest spot on Lake Monroe. Meet new people, see old friends, get out on (or in..) the water, and enjoy the Pine Grove. We'll have food, and rides will be provided. Just make sure to register so we know you're coming. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1kEWFm3l1CGFIgvYpNlayjH3BKAH-GnQEarUqJ5w1TxE/edit

So you're finally here!! (or maybe you're still en route!) We know that moving is exhausting and chaotic so as you settle in, here are some of our tips for where to find what you need:

*Food! Aldi, Kroger, Fresh Thyme, and Walmart are great places to grocery shop. Check them all out and you'll find your favorite. Also Btown has several international markets and some farmers' markets on the weekends. Also DoorDash is a food delivery app that you can have restaurants deliver a meal to you. And Instacart is an app to order groceries and have them delivered to your door.

*For things like bedding, rugs, kitchen supplies, etc., good options are Walmart, Target, Dollar General, and Dollar Tree.

*Bed, Bath, & Beyond has lots of stuff for your apartment including small appliances. Just make sure to use the app or google for a 20% off coupon.

*Facebook Marketplace is a good place to check for people selling used furniture for cheap. Also the Goodwill Store is a great place to find used furniture and household items.

*You can order a mattress from Amazon and have it delivered right to your door! It's a game changer in making it easy to get a bed because you don't need a truck to go pick it up!

*College Mall has tons of stores to check out including restaurants.

If you have specific questions, message us. Welcome to Bloomington!! And for you who have lived here for a while, feel free to add your suggestions and tips in the comments!

So if you're an international student moving to Btown to go to IU this fall, there's probably a bunch of unknowns - questions you're wondering about. We're here to help!

For instance, check out this cool program that we just learned about! Lots of international students have participated in the Earn-a-bike program and gotten a free bike PLUS learned some bike maintenance and met people along the way. Go visit the btownbikeproject.org site for more info!

And don't forget to DM us if you have questions as you prepare to move! We can't wait to meet you and welcome you to IU and Bloomington.

Hey, so August is quickly approaching! Are you an international student who will be moving to Bloomington to study at IU for fall 2022? If so, we at Bridges can't wait to meet you. Send us a message and let us know where you're moving from, when you're arriving, and if there's anything we can do to help you. Or even if you're trying to make those final decisions on what goes into your suitcase; if you're wondering if you can find a certain thing in Bloomington, message us and we'll do our best to assist. Can't wait to welcome you! It's a great place to live.

If you have some time Sunday afternoon please join us : )
The registration link is https://forms.gle/TBJnB7G2wp6D2upF9

The Bridges staff are closely following the weather over the next 48 hours!

If you're coming to the Lunar New Year celebration Friday night, know that we will be watching road conditions closely. (If we feel like it's unsafe to drive Friday night, we'll move our celebration to next week and combine it with the lantern festival!) You can get updates here, through the Mailchimp, or from any of our staff.

ALSO! In the event of lots of snow, watch here and email for info on sledding!!

So bundle up, stay warm, be safe, and enjoy what is predicted to be a big snowfall.

The Bridges staff are closely following the weather over the next 48 hours! If you're coming to the Lunar New Year celebration Friday night, know that we will be watching road conditions closely. (If we feel like it's unsafe to drive Friday night, we'll move our celebration to next week and combine it with the lantern festival!) You can get updates here, through the Mailchimp, or from any of our staff. ALSO! In the event of lots of snow, watch here and email for info on sledding!! So bundle up, stay warm, be safe, and enjoy what is predicted to be a big snowfall.