2,000 students from Europe
Dozens of foreign students flowed steadily through the weekly International Coffee-house, but the crowd had very little to do with coffee.
"It's free food. That's the bottom line. Free food and fellowship. People like to talk to other people," said Larry Wanaselja, senior pastor of New Covenant Presbyterian Church, which sponsors the coffeehouse.
And most people like to socialize in their native tongue. Several European languages filled the downtown Avenue Inn's breakfast room as students working in the resort areas on temporary visas from countries throughout Europe, but primarily Russia, Romania, Ukraine and Bulgaria, popped into the late-night event.
Held from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Thursdays through summer and early fall, the International Coffeehouse is among a growing number of events created for the large population of foreign students, who often arrive in the resorts without housing, jobs or general knowledge of the area. In recent years, area businesses, chambers of commerce, churches and various agencies have joined forces to reach those students through free meals at local churches and bike safety events offering free helmets and bike lights. The coordinated effort, now falling under the umbrella of the International Student Outreach Program, includes welcome wagons at bus stops and orientation literature in six languages.
Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce President Carol Everhart estimates that 2,000 students from Europe descend on Sussex County's beaches for the summer season. Most stay through September and some into October, she said. Because they work two to three jobs each, she said, they create a workforce equal to 4,000 to 6,000 people.
New Covenant member Phyllis Wanaselja said the church knew it needed to be creative to reach the population of foreign students because they work so much. That's how the Rehoboth-area church arrived at the late-night coffeehouse. Most students are just getting off work and have a little time to relax, Wanaselja said.
"It's been fun to get to know these kids," she said.
