Friends of International Women, an organization that offers international students the opportunity to make friends, is holding a welcome reception for new and returning members Thursday night at 7.

Friends of International Women not only gives international women the opportunity to socialize, but it also allows them to practice speaking English and learn about each other’s cultures, said Laura Hamilton, president of Friends of International Women.

She said events like the welcome reception at 100 University Village, are important to international women with limited overseas experience, who are not proficient in English and who have no social bonds with Ames residents.

Hamilton, who has been president of the organization for four years, said the group includes women of all ages from 15 countries. However, she said most of the women are college age.

“We invite students who are alienated from campus and also wives who feel isolated,” Hamilton said.

Conversation groups meet one or two times a month to talk about how they spend their time, the problems they are having in daily life and other interests, she said.

Hamilton said the women naturally make comparisons between their native countries and America.

“We all laugh … American ways seem very strange,” Hamilton said.

Friends of International Women also plans other activities together. Hamilton said they have a potluck dinner for families in June and holiday home tours.

Some of the group’s planned outings included a visit to the Pella Festival in Pella and trips to summer band concerts.

Friends of International Women was established in the 1970s by the YWCA, Church of Women United and with the help of other women organizations.

For further information about Friends of International Women, contact Hamilton at 233-5455.