The ILC is founded on the belief that the best way of forming intercultural friendships and fostering international understanding is through working, living, studying, and socializing with people from different background.   To that end, the ILC staff works very hard to organize many special events for ILC residents.  There is never a shortage of things to do in the ILC, and sometimes there will be a long list of activities available for residents to choose from.  These activities may or may not be available to those living outside of the ILC.  Some of these activities include:

Orientation:  The ILC provides a week long extensive orientation just for ILC residents, which includes activities designed to help bring the community together and to help new international exchange students settle in.  We take students shopping for items they left behind, lead tours of campus, hold sessions about American classes and university culture, and host many games and activities to help people make new friends and meet people.

Culture Nights:  One of the staples of the ILC, culture nights are a chance for students of a particular nationality, religion, or culture to get together and share a small piece of their culture with the rest of the ILC.  They might cook a dish from home, share some games they grew up playing, or provide information about their history.  In past years, ILC residents have been served a four-course Italian Dinner, played Dutch children's games, eaten Australian BBQs, made Japanese origami, practice Australian slang, destroyed a Mexican Pinata, learned to make Korean food, and got an insider's view on Columbia's political history.

Language Games: A chance for students to come together and experience that variety of languages spoken at the ILC.  Whether you are learning your first words in a new language, practicing a language you are currently studying, or teaching others a language that you speak... the ILC offers numerous opportunities to get explore language.

International Affairs Group:  This ILC-lead club allows students to dig a little deeper into current issues of international news.  Completely run by students, it provides an opportunity to dig deeper into the complicated political and social issues across the world and allows students to look at issues from a global perspective.  Whether it's debating international immigration issues, to discussing religious persecution around the world, to looking at the international impact of pharmaceutical companies and medical research, to addressing the growing phenomenon of medical tourism, to exploring the complicated history of American-Cuba relations.

Off-Campus Trips: In recognition of the fact that this is many international student's first visit to the United States, California, and the Bay Area, the ILC provides many opportunities for students to get off campus and explore what this area has to offer.  We've been camping in Yosemite National Park, we've visited Disneyland, we've visited San Francisco tourist and shopping areas, we've been to the world famous Monterrey Aquarium, we've gone to sporting events such as Cal Games and Giants Games and Sharks, we've visited museums and exhibitions, we've been kayaking and surfing and white water rafting, we've been to musicals and plays... anything the bay area and California has to offer.

On-Campus Programs: On campus, we do our best to make sure there is always something going on in the ILC to help students get involved with each other and with their community.  We hold Ping Pong Tournaments and Soccer games; We watch the World Cup Play Offs and the Winter Olympics; we arrange for Potlucks and Cook-offs; we host game nights and movie nights; we hold trivia contests; we provide information on studying for midterms and passing classes; we hold Halloween party with costumes and pumpkin carving and haunted houses; we teach students how to do tie-dye and henna tattoos... there is always something to do in the ILC.