UNT International Blogs

Daniel Pearl Music Days at UNT

2008-10-06T11:15:29-05:00

Tuesday, October 14th, at 6:00 PM, come join us for a screen of "The Journalist and the Jihadi: the Murder of Daniel Pearl" at the University Union Lyceum. Click the Image below for full details.

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Texas Driver License Changes

2008-10-03T15:07:58-05:00

The Texas Department of Public Safety has issued a new rule which affects non-citizens here for a short period of time, or those renewing licenses with little time left on the immigration document. The rule, shown below, became effective October 1, 2008.

#15.171. Issuance of Driver License and Identification Certificates to Non-citizens.

(a) An applicant who is not a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States must present valid documentation issued by the United State Department of Justice, United States Department of State, United States Department of Homeland Security, United States Immigration and Naturalization Service, United States Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, or any successor agency of the aforementioned that shows lawful temporary admission to the United States.

(1) An applicant whose lawful admission period is more than 6 months, but less than the full term of a driver license or identification certificate will be issued a driver license or identification certificate with a status date displayed that coincides with the expiration date of the applicant's lawful admission period in the United States.

(2) If the lawful admission period in the United States indicated on the document presented by the applicant expires in less than 6 months from the date of application, no driver license or identification certificate may be issued.

(3) If the document presented by the applicant to demonstrate lawful temporary admission indicates an indefinate expiration date, the driver license or identification certificate will be issued with a status date displayed of one year from the date of application.

(b) In the event the applicant's status is updated or extended, the applicant must present valid documentation of such status change or extension to obtain a duplicate driver license or identification certificate with an updated status date.

(c) The driver license or identification certificate will be cancelled if within 45 days from the status date the applicant is unable to present valid documentation showing a status change or extension of admission perios.

Diversity (Green Card) Lottery Announced

2008-09-30T16:22:41-05:00

This year's green card lottery, officially called the Diversity Lottery 2010 can accept electronic applications beginning at noon Eastern daylight time October 2, 2008. It closes at noon Eastern standard time December 1, 2008.

Information and instructions can be found at http://www.dvlottery.state.gov/ or http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1318.html .

We warn you to be very careful of fraudulent companies who promise things they cannot deliver. We recommend that if you do apply, you follow the State Department instructions.

Immigration Attorney Consultation

2008-09-29T14:55:16-05:00

Immigration Attorney Craig Miley will provide free 15 minute consultations for students with complicated immigration questions. He will be available by appointment on October 23 from 10-5. Please contact International Student and Scholar Services (International Advising) at 940-565-2195 to arrange an appointment.

SEVIS FEE Increase

2008-09-29T14:50:58-05:00

The SEVIS Fee will increase from $100 to $200 for F-1 students. It will increase from $100 to $180 for J-1 Exchange Students and Scholars. The date of increase is October 27, 2008. We recommend that anyone who needs to pay a SEVIS Fee, pay it before October 27, 2008. More information about the fee, also called the I-901 fee, can be found at http://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/index.htm .

UNT professor evacuated safely from Georgia

2008-08-14T08:55:33-05:00

After conflict erupted in Georgia, UNT officials carried out emergency procedures to secure the safety of geography professor Dr. C. Reid Ferring. UNT officials stayed in close contact with Ferring, his family, the State Department and the private health insurance provider until he returned safely to the United States. Ferring planned on researching medieval ruins in southeastern Georgia until late August, but was evacuated with a U.S. government sponsored convoy August 11 and has since returned home.

A Royal Beauty

2008-08-04T17:12:51-05:00

Today’s activities can only be described as beautiful, and this could possibly be an understatement. Everything on this trip has opened my eyes to the beauty of Thailand’s tropical weather and unique architecture, but the Bhubing Palace, which we visited today, was a pure treat to my eyes. Gardens full of orchids and other tropical flowers graced the palace’s courtyards, and everybody took plenty of pictures, hoping to capture the beauty of it all. The fact that the King and his royal family still use the palace for their leisure, yet allow tourists into their homes, seems very generous. It shows they realize the exquisiteness of their palaces, and find it important to share their wealth with foreigners like me. I am very grateful! After viewing the lush gardens of the palace, we headed up a steep brick staircase to view more gardens plus a beautiful fountain. There were about 4 fountains in a lake in the middle of the gardens, and they all sprouted water at different times and speeds. It was as if I was watching a Thai water show! When the tour came to an end, Brittney and I began to smell one of the most pleasant scents that we’ve smelled since we came to Thailand (unlike the usual whiffs that the city has to offer our poor noses). We discovered some Thai women selling waffles with toppings! We quickly ran over to buy one of the most delicious snacks that our mouths were blessed to consume; a yummy waffle with strawberry jam all for 50 baht (roughly $1.50 US)! The Bhubing Palace experience made my day and I’ll never forget the beauty of the courtyards or my scrumptious strawberry waffle. -Simoya Edwards

Border of Thailand and Myanmar

2008-08-04T17:08:19-05:00

Today had to be the most depressing day. We traveled to the border of Thailand and Myanmar (Burma) and I saw a side of Thailand I had not seen before. The northern most part of Thailand is the epitome of a third world country. I have never seen so many children begging in one place in all my life. It looked like one of those commercials you see on television, asking for a dime a day to feed a poor child, stricken with poverty. Had we chosen to go into Burma with some of the others in the group, I’m pretty sure the feeling of depression would have been even more immense. Dr. Levin and Melissa said the differences that exist between these bordering countries were evident, despite being right next to each other. They said that you could clearly see that Myanmar was an underdeveloped country and Thailand one where there is some evidence of improvement. While some of us in the group stayed behind in Maesai, the border city to Myanmar, most of the group paid 10 U.S dollars to get in to Myanmar, just to say “Hey, I’ve been to Myanmar and Thailand!” Brittney, Oluchi, Nigel, and I decided to go shopping while others who stayed behind in Maesai went to one of the temples. We ended up just sitting in a food court for the whole 2 hours the others were discovering the new country. Why you may ask? The answer is that our morale dropped to zero after only walking around probably less than 10 minutes. My heart was literally broken because there were so many children begging for money. I couldn’t even give them anything; if I was to give one something, swarms of poor children would come out from the crevices to get more! One little boy in particular stayed at the food court with us the whole 2 hours we were there and when it was time for us to meet the group back at the immigration point, we realized he had followed us the whole way there! I don’t know how everybody else felt about what they saw today, but I know for me, I was ready to go back home by the end of the day.

-Simoya Edwards

Phuket's Heroines

2008-07-31T06:10:22-05:00

“Sawatdee, ka.” (“Hello.”) So far, the group has been tough about this whole experience in Thailand. Everything is going great and Thailand is just wonderful. With the end coming in the near future, there is a memory I would like to share with everyone in Thailand and around the world.

The group has been on an exciting journey through Phuket. In this wonderful province there are a Monument of Phuket’s Heroines, Thao Thep Kasattri and Thao Sri Soontorn. This monument was very special, especially for females. Who would have ever thought that two sisters would be the ones to save this beautiful province of Phuket?

They were dressed in ancient Thai-style war uniform. They fought with all of their will and power to save this wonderful Phuket. All of the women back then dressed in these ancient Thai-style war uniforms so that they were disguised as men when fighting in wars. As you can see in the photo, the two sisters were active in the defeat of the Burmese in 1785 because this event forced the Burmese to vacate. These two women deceived the enemy into believing that they were troop corroboration from Bangkok by disguising many women in army uniforms and marching them through town. Their success has been recognized and has remained in acknowledgement ever since.

This is such a unique story because both men and women are treated the same, and no one is rejected because of their gender. The two women attempted their technique and were very successful. These statues symbolized equality, pride, and success for the future. This is a great reminder of how women should not give up on their destiny and mission. I believe that this would relate to every woman on this planet. There are always struggles, but what is going to happen is going to happen. No one can escape life and the things that life brings us, just as we cannot escape death no matter how hard we try. These brave heroines truly define the meaning of femininity. Women can do anything they dream of and be just as good as men. “Kob khoun, ka. La gon, ka.” (“Thank you and good-bye.”)

-Crystal Samountry

The Warm Feeling of Familiarity

2008-07-31T06:12:04-05:00

My friends and I went into a 7-11 convenience store near the border of Thailand and Myanmar a couple of days ago and as soon as we walked in we saw a group of Americans and our homesick spirits were immediately uplifted. After talking with them for a few minutes we learned they were on a mission trip and were from Tennessee and Texas! Even though we did not know them, their faces looked familiar and their voices felt as good as hearing the national anthem on Super Bowl Sunday. It was just what we needed, a warm, comforting feeling of home.

Once back at the hotel, the ants came marching one by one, but in this specific Thai hotel, it was more like by the hundreds. I have never seen so many ants! Where are they coming from? Why are we the only one who seems to see them? The worst thing about it is that they don’t even die when you try to kill them. Maybe that’s why the natives just let them be?

~Oluchi Igbokwe