---IANS ENJOY HARDIJC LIFE Roommates from Ontario become friends through social club, spend free time climbing, fishing in America's outdoors With more than 50 countries represented at Harding this year, many people asked why so many international students attended such a small school so far away from home. Each student brought a unique story about how he or she learned of Harding and why he or she decided to come to school here. Proudly displayed on the wall of a third floor dorm room in Keller Hall this year was a Canadian flag owned by two Canucks who decided a few years ago to make the long haul to Searcy, Ark. Senior Chris Courson and his roommate, sophomore Matt Pickard, grew up and went to school together in the town of Beamsville, Ontario. Courson, an accounting major and member of Pi Kappa Epsilon social club, jokingly said it was the "good-looking American women" that brought him here. But the real reason he chose Photo by Curtis Seright Marina Zhuravelva, a sophomore from Russia, talks with a friend in the Hammon Student Center. Zhuravelva was a member of Delta Gamma Rho social club. Harding was the Christian atmosphere. "The people here are really nice, and I like the guys in my club," Courson said. When not studying for the accounting classes he took this year, Courson said he enjoyed spending his free time at the cliffs of Heber Springs or by taking trips to Memphis, Dallas or Nashville on the weekends. He plans to graduate, become a certified public accountant and work somewhere in the southern United States. Pickard crammed all his belongings into his '91 Honda Civic before making the 20-hour trip to Harding. And if you asked Pickard what the most valuable item in his car was, he would most likely tell you it was his fly rod. Pickard, a sophomore double majoring in Bible and psychology, spent much of his free time at the Little Red River perfecting his cast and reeling in prized trout. Pickard is also a member of Pi Kappa Epsilon and enjoys "hanging out with the boys." Having made many friends in the club, Pickard said being a member has been his favorite aspect of Harding. "The friendships made at Harding are strong because everyone wants to have a better relationship with our Creator," he said. Pickard plans to graduate from Harding and continue his education, hoping to be a Christian family therapist. -Aaron Snow ''The friendships madeatHarcting are strong because everyone wcmts to have a better relati<>nshipwithC>UrCreat<>r." -Matt Pickard, sophomorefrom Canada Freshman Mayouyou Nongo-Nongo donates hertime to the Searcy Carnival Sept. 29. Nongo-Nongo, a native of France, participated in the carnival in an effort to make new friends and serve the city of Searcy. international students 31
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