Brazil
Name: Leonardo Feitosa Dantas
Email: UCLA.Brazil.Ambassador@gmail.com
Hometown: Joinville
Major: Pre-International Development Studies and Political Science
About Me: I was born in Rio de Janeiro but I was raised in Joinville, a smaller town in the south where I had the opportunity to study in an international school and enjoy a more friendly, laid-back environment. I was deeply involved in school and academic life —founding the student government and constantly speaking in events— but at the same time I could never decline an invite to go out or chill with my friends and family. My entire goal here at UCLA is to acquire the knowledge about politics and international development (that I would otherwise lack back home) to actually go back and make my part in reshaping the vastly corrupted and decadent social, political, and educational structure of Brazil.
Canada
Name: Robby Ngai
Email: UCLA.Canada.Ambassador@gmail.com
Hometown: Toronto
Major: Undeclared social science, interested in Psychology and Communications
About Me: heya, people tell me that I'm pretty easy to talk to even if i might not look like it. :) I love trying new things - went surfing for the first time recently and was terrible, but loved it! I can speak Mandarin/Cantonese fluently and Japanese fairy well, although unfortunately my French skill has deteriorated significantly. I love playing "would you rather" so hit me up widdit!
Costa Rica
Name: Jorge Jimenez
Email: UCLA.CostaRica.Ambassador@gmail.com
Hometown: San Jose
Major: Economics, possibly Neuroscience too
About Me: In terms of academics, I am very interested in the fields of economics, neuroscience and psychology, as well as history, politics and geography. In particular, I am fascinated by the merging of neuroscience, psychology and economics to study the brain and the biological basis of human behavior and decision-making. Regarding other aspects of life, I like running and playing sports such as soccer, both of which I used to do in a more rigorous way. I also enjoy working out, climbing and playing racquetball, as well as exploring new places and visiting tourist locations.
Jamaica
Name: Peter Worton
Email: UCLA.Jamaica.Ambassador@gmail.com
Hometown: Kingston
Major: Mechanical Engineering '21
About Me: I visited California when I was young and loved it; still do. I came here for opportunity and I see my potential growing. I am very outgoing and active so I tend to keep myself very busy.
Mexico
Name: Andrea González Herrera
Email: UCLA.Mexico.Ambassador@gmail.com
Hometown: Guadalajara, Jalisco
Major: Cognitive Science Major minoring in Comparative Literature
About Me: My goal is to eventually go to graduate school and become a Clinical Psychologist. I was born and raised in Guadalajara, Jalisco, México. I love my country and Mexican culture. My hobbies are painting, drawing, reading, listening to music, hanging out with my friends, watching Netflix, dancing and I adore learning new languages! My favorite type of music is reggaeton. My favorite food is always a tough choice between sushi and Italian food. I am very academically orientated, and I love learning. I like to explore new things and visit places around LA. I am a very upbeat person, I get excited very easily and I'm excited to meet you! At the same time, I also get nervous/scared quite easily and I was so nervous to move out of home and come to a big school, but also very excited. I learned how to balance these two emotions and use this excitement to get over my fear. I think the best thing to do if you are nervous of leaving your country is to just try to relax, be open-minded and try to find the bright side in any situation! Trust that UCLA is the place for you and that you will have fun and learn so much!
Panama
Name: Nitya Mehta
Email: UCLA.Panama.Ambassador@gmail.com
Hometown: Colon
Major: Global Studies with a minor in Environmental Systems and Society
About Me: Hello! My name is Nitya Mehta, and I am so honored to be serving as an international ambassador representing my country: Panamá. I am currently a sophomore at UCLA studying Global Studies because of my interest in international relations and diplomacy. A fun fact about me is that I was actually on James Corden. I got to play one of the games that he plays with the audience; talk about that LA life people. You should definitely take advantage of living in this not amazing city. I am also obsessed with Harry Potter, Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Shawn Mendes, The Script, F.R.I.E.N.D.S, and food in general. So if you want to fangirl with me about any of these, I am definitely your person.
Venezuela
Name: Isabella Gago
Email: UCLA.Venezuela.Ambassador@gmail.com
Hometown: Valencia
Major: Political Science and Geography/Environmental Studies
About Me: I was born and raised in my hometown of Valencia, so the first time I moved was when I came to UCLA. Growing up I loved playing sports, I played soccer, softball, volleyball, basketball and golf. I enjoy meeting new people and learning about other cultures as well as teaching others about mine.
Germany
Name: Alissa Lioznova
Email: UCLA.Germany.Ambassador@gmail.com
Hometown: Wedel
Major: Economics
About Me: I consider myself a cosmopolitan citizen, as I am Russian, but I was born in Belgium, and I grew up in Germany. I consider Germany to be my home, and I moved to the United States for college, because I have always felt comfortable and welcomed here. Since then, I have been waking up with a smile on my face every day. I love to travel (in fact, I have visited 46 countries so far, with number 47 coming up this summer) and I speak six languages, because I love to connect to other people through their native language.
Greece
Name: Farah Nuqul
Email: UCLA.Greece.Ambassador@gmail.com
Hometown: Amman / Athens
Major: Bachelors in Political Science
About Me: Hi! My name is Farah Nuqul, and I’m half Jordanian-half Greek. I was born and raised in Jordan, but I visit Greece a lot, and there’s no doubt that I consider it to be home. On another note, I’m obsessed with everything fashion, and I love to travel. Also, I love trying different kinds of food and cuisines. I’m in love with LA and I’m so grateful to be attending school here. I honestly have learned so much in my time here and I have grown greatly as an individual. Being so far away from home really teaches you a lot, but it can also be intimidating and at times overwhelming. For any of you who feel homesick or wants to talk to someone who understands, please feel free to contact me. I’m here to help in any way that I possibly can. Even if you just want to talk about a TV show or anything else, I got you.
Italy
Name: Anqi "Angie" Chen
Email: UCLA.Italy.Ambassador@gmail.com
Hometown: I was born in China, but I moved to Modena in Italy with my family when I was 12.
Major: Piano Performance and Business Economics
About Me: As an international student with multicultural background, I totally understand how hard it is to assimilate to a new culture, adapt to a new environment, and be part of a new community. Sometimes you can feel homesick and feel powerless in a country where people don’t speak your native language. I went through all this everytime when I moved to a new country and as an international student ambassador I will help other international students to feel welcomed in this country and that their voice would be heard.
Switzerland
Name: Vincent Chenneveau
Email: UCLA.Switzerland.Ambassador@gmail.com
Hometown: Geneva
Major: Economics
About Me: That I can remember I've lived in San Diego, California, Seoul, South Korea, and Geneva Switzerland before coming here for University. I've travelled extensively throughout Europe, South East Asia and other parts of the World. As a student of international schools I've been exposed to a large variety of different cultures and I'm always happy to meet new people. I play lots of video games and love to keep up with current affairs. Feel free to contact me about everything and anything Switzerland related!
Ghana
Name: Or Fisher
Email: UCLA.Ghana.Ambassador@gmail.com
Hometown: I am originally from Ness Ziona, Israel, but for the last 7 years I have lived in Accra, Ghana.
Major: Physiological Science
Advice: I would give to students coming in from Israel or Ghana are to pack light because you will have to deal with packing and finding summer storage for all your things. It is always beneficial to learn how the American weather (Fahrenheit) and distance/size (miles/ounces), etc work because people will often ask you questions and they will not understand when you answer in Celsius or Kilometers/Kilograms. Last advice is to always book the flights as early as you can going back home after finals week because it costs extra to stay longer.
Nigeria
Name: Chirag Thadani
Email: UCLA.Nigeria.Ambassador@gmail.com
Hometown: Port Harcourt
Major: Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics
About Me: I was born in Nigeria and raised partly in Nigeria, India and Singapore. The first time I ever came to the US was 2 days before UCLA orientation. I have changed schools and cities so many times in life that I cannot associate one particular place with my home. As a result, I very well understand the difficulties that come across when moving to a completely new place and trying to adjust to a whole new life (to the point that now I kinda enjoy it!). Moving into my third year here at UCLA, I am currently working in a Neurobiology Lab where we do some cool research and volunteer at the Ronald Reagan Hospital during weekends. I love meeting people and experiencing different cultures.
South Africa
Name: Luke Mostert
Email: UCLA.SouthAfrica.Ambassador@gmail.com
Hometown: Cape Town
Major: Political Science, with a minor in Accounting
About Me: Hi guys! My name is Luke, and I’m a senior Political Science and Accounting Student. I was born and raised in South Africa, having lived there all my life until coming to UCLA for college. My passions include entrepreneurship and non-profit work, while I also love playing and watching Tennis. As a student ambassador, I hope not only to advocate for more opportunities for international students, but also to ensure incoming students have as smooth and successful a transition as possible. My best advice for incoming students would be to seek mentor ship from fellow students in the areas you are interested in, as UCLA is a big place and thus without guidance, it is easy to get lost and miss out. For any students that may have concerns or questions about their UCLA experience, please feel free to contact me or come by my office hours. I look forward to meeting you!
Bahrain
Name: Fares Al Ghareeb
Email: UCLA.Bahrain.Ambassador@gmail.com
Hometown: Hamad Town
About Me: I was born and raised in Bahrain, but lived in New Zealand for two years while I was younger, as my brother was in a program for autistic children. Graduated from high-school with an IB Diploma and was an avid member of our school's MUN club, organizing trips to St. Petersburg, Russia and Istanbul, Turkey.
Jordan
Name: Farah Nuqul
Email: UCLA.Jordan.Ambassador@gmail.com
Hometown: Amman / Athens
Dos:
Take advantage of campus resources.
Talk to counsellors in your department to stay on track.
Try new things. Visit new places. There are so many trips and activities that are offered; sign up for them. Or just grab a few friends, and explore LA and all it has to offer.
Don’ts:
Don’t assume you know everything because you read about LA or visited it. You have so much to learn and so much to experience.
Don’t leave everything till the last minute. The quarter flies by so quickly. So stay on top of things.
Don’t forget to have some fun.
Lebanon
Name: Mohammad Nakouzi
Email: UCLA.Lebanon.Ambassador@gmail.com
Hometown: Saidon
Major: Mechanical Engineering and Economics
About Me: My name is Mohammad Nakouzi and I am a Junior here at UCLA. I’m from a small town in Lebanon called Saida but I was born and raised in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. With my background, I experienced a large cultural shock when coming to Los Angeles. I have been to LA before during the summer, but I never realized how different it would be becoming a resident rather than a tourist. Going to an international school, I was given the opportunity to travel a lot and immerse myself in new cultures. My favorite cities I visited were Florence, Berlin and New York. I played a lot of varsity sports growing up (volleyball, soccer, basketball and badminton), but I believe I excelled in Rugby where I played for the U18’s National Saudi team against my home country, Lebanon. Ironic, I know! My favorite TV shows include Friends, Suits, Prison Break and Sherlock! The reason I became an International Student Ambassador is because I love meeting people and offer them any advice to help them in any way possible! And I mean it, I’m here to help you in any way possible!
Israel
Name: Or Fisher
Email: UCLA.Israel.Ambassador@gmail.com
Hometown: I am originally from Ness Ziona, Israel, but for the last 7 years I have lived in Accra, Ghana.
Major: Physiological Science
Advice: I would give to students coming in from Israel or Ghana are to pack light because you will have to deal with packing and finding summer storage for all your things. It is always beneficial to learn how the American weather (Fahrenheit) and distance/size (miles/ounces), etc work because people will often ask you questions and they will not understand when you answer in Celsius or Kilometers/Kilograms. Last advice is to always book the flights as early as you can going back home after finals week because it costs extra to stay longer.
Pakistan
Name: Shezereh Hussain
Email: UCLA.Pakistan.Ambassador@gmail.com
Hometown: I have lived all my life in Lahore, Pakistan.
Major: Economics with potential minors in theater and digital humanities.
About Me: I am generally a very spontaneous and adventurous person, always out there to try something new and accept challenges. I believe in being studious and hardworking when it comes to school and responsibilities but I also see myself as loving life to the fullest and not missing any opportunity to explore as much. Just being in the US for the past 3 years, I have formed some of the best memories but I still think I am not done yet. Still got a lot of restaurants, events, concerts and areas to explore. Of course I love doing all this with as many people around so come join me in all my adventures, I love people and making friends in general!
Saudi Arabia
Name: Mohammad Nakouzi
Email: UCLA.SaudiArabia.Ambassador@gmail.com
Hometown: Jeddah
Major: Mechanical Engineering and Economics
Advice:
1) Make use of the international student services at UCLA
2) Set yourself a goal and DO NOT PROCRASTINATE! University is not like High School, studying the night before will not work. Also, do not skip lecture even if attendance isn’t required. Many professors share questions on the exam during their lectures so students attending lectures usually perform better in the exams.
3) Get to know your TA’s – helps for letter of recommendation, understanding course material
4) Go outside your comfort zone and explore in every way you can – socially, academically, and with extracurricular activities. Do as much as you can because time flies fast in college. Participate in as many activities and clubs because this may be the only chance in your life to do so! Regret is one of the worst feeling in the world!
Turkey
Name: Eda Gokcebay
Email: UCLA.Turkey.Ambassador@gmail.com
Hometown: Istanbul
Major: Business Economics
About Me: I am from Istanbul, Kadikoy. I went to Koç School and did the IB programme. I love skiing and hiking. I have two yorkshire terriers (Puffy and Lilly) and I love dogs (I even made a photo gallery about the dogs of UCLA for the Daily Bruin). I love exploring new places.
UAE
Name: Saagarika Verma
Email: UCLA.UAE.Ambassador@gmail.com
Hometown: I’m from Madhya Pradesh, India but I’ve lived all over and attended high school in Dubai, UAE.
Major: Double majoring in Economics and Linguistics & Computer Science
Advice: I feel that coming to UCLA from a different country is hard enough, but on top of that, the different curriculum makes the transition even harder. I think that it’s comforting to know that others go through this too and continue to go through this. Yes, UCLA is pretty overwhelming, but don’t worry, if you keep an open mind, we can get through this together. Go Bruins!
China
Name: Ruiyao “Lacey” Sun
Email: UCLA.China.Ambassador@gmail.com
Hometown: Henan, Zhengzhou
Major: Psychology
About Me: Growing up I loved watching American TV shows and listening to Taylor Swift, which is why I was so thrilled to be able to study in Los Angeles - aka the headquarter of entertainment industries. Coming to a foreign country alone was undoubtedly a somewhat challenging experience, but it is also a privilege to be able to be exposed to two vastly different cultures. My friends still sometimes correct me when I say the wrong words in English, and in turn, I would rectify their myths about China, for example, how Orange Chicken does not exist in our country.
China
Name: Zihe Tang
Email: UCLA.China.Ambassador@gmail.com
Hometown: Beijing
Major: Applied Math & Political Science
About Me: Hi, I'm Zihe, a third year in 2018 Fall with Applied Math & Political Science majors. I was born in Beijing and prepared to study abroad when I was in high school. I came to UCLA two years ago and had lots of meaningful experiences since then. I've worked in campus dining hall, participated in lots of interesting workshops or activities on campus and tried multiple classes in several academic fields. Personally, I feel there's a big difference between my hometown and LA, and thus it took me a while to adjust to the life here. I'd like to share all my experiences to other international bruins and hope it could help in some way.
Hong Kong
Name: Peggy Wong
Email: UCLA.HongKong.Ambassador@gmail.com
Hometown: Hong Kong
Major: Communications
About Me: My name is Peggy and I am a senior transfer here at UCLA. My major is Communications and I am minoring in Linguistics as well. Please don’t be afraid to ask me questions! I’ll do my best to answer them or direct you to resources you might need.
Japan
Name: Rina Fujikawa
Email: UCLA.Japan.Ambassador@gmail.com
Hometown: Tokyo
Major: Cognitive Science
About Me: Hi, I'm Rina. I am from Japan, but I was born in Venezuela and grew up in Chile and Brazil (and Japan). From experience, I know what it feels like to be abroad as a Japanese, as well as a "non-Japanese" in Japan. Enjoy LA! Don't wait until "later" and go when you can! Please feel free to ask me any questions!
Mongolia
Name: Anudari “Anu” Chinzorig
Email: UCLA.Mongolia.Ambassador@gmail.com
Hometown: Ulaanbaatar
Major: Economics/ Pre-med
About Me: Hey, I’m Anu, a girl born and raised in the coldest capital of the world, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. I have lived in Japan for two years during middle school, so I can speak with you in Japanese and some Russian as well. Feel welcome to say hi! I love going to the beaches and doing homework or just basking in the sun. Just love doing all the LA things! I have chosen to pursue a career in medicine while majoring in economics, which I am quite passionate about as well.
South Korea
Name: Jaegeon “Luke” Shin
Email: UCLA.SouthKorea.Ambassador@gmail.com
Hometown: Seoul
Major: Mathematics
About Me: Hello, I am a second year math student from South Korea. Although I spent most of my life in South Korea, I also lived in the Philippines and the United States for a bit before coming to UCLA. Feel free to ask me any questions you have about UCLA or just life in general!
Brunei
Name: Nur “Hazirah” Ahmad
Email: UCLA.Brunei.Ambassador@gmail.com
Hometown: BSB (Kampong Masin/Tutong)
Major: Undeclared social sciences, but leaning towards double majoring in Political Science and Economics or minor in Asian American studies
About Me: I’ve always failed at the 8-clap, but I love being a Bruin. Always down to get lost in LA, down for that midnight taco truck run, and a day trip anywhere. You’ll probably always see me cram 4 weeks of lecture the night before finals. On a serious note, though I did regret coming to UCLA for quite some time in the beginning, especially because I did not have a Bruneian community to fall back on, I actually really love being here now.
Cambodia
Name: June Bo
Email: UCLA.Cambodia.Ambassador@gmail.com
Hometown: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Major: Psychology
About Me: Hello everyone! Although I'm Cambodian, my birth name is Yihouy ("Ee-Hwae") since I am ethnically Chinese. I've been studying abroad since I was 12 - I spent 4 years in Singapore and then moved around in California until I finally ended up here in Westwood! So, like many of you, I am pretty much ethnically confused and no stranger to the incessant challenges of being an international student. However, I know this arduous life we chose are molding us to be extraordinarily resilient, cultured and competent individuals. So hang on there, it IS worth it!
India
Name: Saagarika Verma
Email: UCLA.India.Ambassador@gmail.com
Hometown: I’m from Madhya Pradesh, India but I’ve lived all over and attended high school in Dubai, UAE.
Major: Double majoring in Economics and Linguistics & Computer Science
Advice: I feel that coming to UCLA from a different country is hard enough, but on top of that, the different curriculum makes the transition even harder. I think that it’s comforting to know that others go through this too and continue to go through this. Yes, UCLA is pretty overwhelming, but don’t worry, if you keep an open mind, we can get through this together. Go Bruins!
Indonesia
Name: Sahil Sibal
Email: UCLA.Indonesia.Ambassador@gmail.com
Hometown: Medan
Major: Bachelor's in Civil Engineering
About Me: Hi! My name is Sahil Sibal and I'm from the not so tiny town Medan! I love traveling, exploring new places, and especially trying out different cuisines. I am known for being very approachable and I love interacting with students from different backgrounds. I struggled in adapting to the new lifestyle early on in my college life, but I'm glad that now I found my place here. But for everyone who still is, don't give up as it is only a matter of time! I hope that I can help other students transition better and make them feel more at home, so feel free to contact me!
Malaysia
Name: Andrea Ng
Email: UCLA.Malaysia.Ambassador@gmail.com
Hometown: Kuala Lumpur
Major: Psychology; Minor: Asian American Studies
About Me: Hello! I'm Andrea and I moved to the US about three and a half years ago. Before coming to UCLA, I went to a community college in LA and I remember being really really scared because I was leaving my family and I would be so far away from good Malaysian food! I'm a Psychology major and ultimately, I want to get a PhD. Currently, I am involved in research programs, some social programs, as well as the women's ultimate frisbee team! I love food and meeting new people so let me know if you ever want to chat and we can go eat good food somewhere! :D
Singapore
Name: Chirag Thadani
Email: UCLA.Singapore.Ambassador@gmail.com
Hometown: Port Harcourt, Nigeria/ Jaipur, India/ Singapore
Major: Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics
Advice: I would suggest coming here with an open mind and considering this as an opportunity to start with a clean slate. You have made the right choice by choosing UCLA and your life now onward would pretty much be whatever you want to make out of it. There is something for everyone here at UCLA. Just be prepared to be challenged but make sure to have fun along the way!
Sri Lanka
Name: Grace Pieris
Email: UCLA.SriLanka.Ambassador@gmail.com
Hometown: Colombo
About Me: Hey Bruins! I’m Grace, from Sri Lanka. I came to UCLA two years ago as a freshman, after a 30-hour flight, with two large suitcases and my parents halfway across the world, scared and excited for college. Even though I left my home for college, I found a home within my college. I meet colleagues who are, like me, passionate about development and social justice issues. I have met students from all walks of life, from China to the Ivory Coast, and learned from their experiences. I found my niche in the Bruinrunners club, whilst running through the scenic landscapes around LA and playing Vampire Tag in the Sculpture Gardens. UCLA is… amazing. You will love it. You will feel at home.
Thailand
Name: Lokachet “Time” Tanasugarn
Email: UCLA.Thailand.Ambassador@gmail.com
Hometown: Bangkok
Major: Masters in Epidemiology
About Me: Hello! My name is Lokachet Tanasugarn. You can call me "Time" as well which is my nickname. I grew up in Bangkok and just started my graduate study in Epidemiology at UCLA for about a year. During my undergrads, I was lucky enough to be able to travel to a number of countries and also visited a lot of places in Thailand apart from Bangkok. So, I value the experience of being an international student and glade to be of help to other internal students through this international ambassador program.
Vietnam
Name: Ken Nguyen
Email: UCLA.Vietnam.Ambassador@gmail.com
Hometown: Ho Chi Minh City
Major: Microbiology, Immunology, & Molecular Genetics
About Me: I am from Vietnam and traveled to LA to study. My mom and sister also came here with me and currently residing in Long Beach. As a life science major, I hope to be involved in research in the future. I'm a little bit of an introvert but easily open up when people approach and start talking to me!