<p>By Barbara Simpson, from <a target="_blank" href="http://www.theobserver.ca">www.theobserver.ca</a> ;nbsp; ;nbsp;The Observer<br><br> When Bisi Alawode wed his fianc ;eacute;e Tito this fall, they didn ;rsquo;t only begin their married life together.</p><p>They also embarked on that new chapter of their lives in a faraway country.</p><p>The newlyweds moved from Lagos, Nigeria ;ndash; Africa ;rsquo;s largest city with a population of 21 million ;ndash; to Sarnia with dreams of furthering their educations.</p><p>Bisi, who had been working as a photographer, wanted to expand his skills, so he enrolled in the new digital photography program. His wife Tito signed up for the business management program.</p><p> ;ldquo;When you leave family for a long distance and you can ;rsquo;t wake up and go talk to them, it can be emotional, but my experience at Lambton College has been wonderful, ;rdquo; Bisi Alwode told an audience gathered at a Cultural Connections session Thursday.</p><p>The monthly educational series organized by the Sarnia-Lambton Local Immigration Partnership features guest speakers from a variety of cultures and backgrounds.</p><p>On Thursday, Lambton College played host to the December session, highlighting their growing international education department.</p><p>This fall, 290 international students attended the college ;rsquo;s Sarnia campus. Another 130 more international students are expected this winter.</p><p>The bulk of students come from Nigeria, China and India, noted Chris Slade, dean of the college ;rsquo;s international education department.</p><p> ;ldquo;In Lagos, Nigeria, Lambton College is as well-known as Centennial and Humber here, ;rdquo; he said.</p><p>The college is now expanding its attraction efforts to South Korea, Ukraine and Russia.</p><p>Slade said the goal is to continue growing into a diverse campus, so both domestic and international students can learn from one another.</p><p> ;ldquo;You can walk through the hallways and see the conversations, the friendships and the relationships and we ;rsquo;re proud of that, ;rdquo; he said.</p><p>First-year business management student Divya Reddy said her Canadian classmates and her homestay family have been welcoming to her.</p><p> ;ldquo;They treat you like a family member, ;rdquo; said Reddy, who hails from India. ;ldquo;They teach you about Canadian culture. ;rdquo;</p><p>Both Alawode and Reddy have become active in student life at Lambton College. They ;rsquo;ve set up a Facebook page ;ldquo;Lambton College International Students Working Group ;rdquo; to connect students from across the world studying at the college.</p><p>Students, like Alawode and Reddy, are an inspiration, Slade noted. They pay higher tuition fees without any government assistance and leave behind families to pursue their careers.</p><p>He said the college is trying to build more ;ldquo;global citizens ;rdquo; ;ndash; people who are adaptable and open-minded ;ndash; for the workforce.<br><br> In many ways, international students embody those characteristics, he noted.</p><p> ;ldquo;They ;rsquo;re really an example for us all, ;rdquo; he said.<br> ;nbsp;</p>
