International Students Thrive at NHI

International Students Ella Bleeker & Kim Forgham.

National Holistic Institute may have to change to International Holistic Institute as more and more students from other countries come to us for massage therapy training.

Beth Fisher coordinates the International and National Outreach for both Northern and Southern California NHI campuses.  She ensures that international students have all questions regarding our program answered and provides them with requirements for the M-1 visa.  Beth tracks our international students from admissions to completion.  She really enjoys this challenging yet rewarding process!

Recently, teacher Jen Moore interviewed two of Beth’s international students – Kim Forgham of London, England, and Ella Bleeker of the Netherlands – who both attend NHI Encino.  Here are Kim and Ella’s thoughts on NHI, massage therapy, and living in Los Angeles.

NHI: When searching for schools in the States what were your priorities?

KF: I was looking for a school with a good reputation in teaching massage therapy and where I knew I would receive thorough and high quality training in both Eastern and Western modalities. I knew that I wanted to continue this as my main career following graduation and that the only way to be successful would be to get a top quality education in this field.

EB: The quality of the school. I already have an education in massage therapy and was looking to extend my knowledge. So it had to be a school that could teach me more than I already knew. The curriculum was great at NHI. It was a plus that there are different styles of massage so I could taste a little bit of everything and in the end choose which technique caught my attention most, and I can specialize in that even further.

NHI: What drew you to NHI? How did you first hear about us?

KF: I found NHI on the internet whilst searching for massage therapy schools in the area. The website was very in-depth and all the students looked like they were having a great time. I visited several schools including NHI and I have to say NHI Encino stood head and shoulders above the other schools I visited in terms of facilities, professionalism, the people I met on the day and I also had a really comfortable feeling which was super important for me as I was going to be such a long way from London and my friends and family.

EB: I found NHI on the internet and it was my first choice. I had to look further though and forgot about NHI because I didn’t have the money for it so I picked an other school, they turned out to be a big scam and so I decided that I really had to choose the best school I could find and got a loan so I could attend NHI. They were very professional from the get go and have never disappointed me after that.

NHI: How was the admissions process for you as an international student?

KF: The visa process is a bit drawn out and includes trips to the American Embassy in London etc but Beth Fisher from the NHI really helped us and completed all the paper work efficiently for me which made that side of the process easier.

EB: It was fairly easy. It seems like a maze when you get started but you will find your way throughout the process and NHI was very helpful.

NHI: How are you enjoying your time at NHI? What is your favorite part of the program so far?

KF: I love school – I wish I had had this attitude towards school the first time around at University, it is an eye opener to be a more mature student (I will be 33 next week!). I am excited to learn and study! I think the very first part of Western was my favorite – going from knowing nothing to being able to do a good full body Swedish massage in a matter of weeks felt like such an achievement and very rewarding when I started to work on the public in clinic. I really enjoy clinic and meeting a new “body” each time as they are all so different and require a new approach each and every time.

EB: I love to go to school every day. We have the best teachers and I learn so much! The combination of classes is what I love the most. I have a slight preference for the western segment but am very curious to learn more about the eastern. I loved MFT and Hot Stone and Sports is probably my all time favorite.

NHI: What, if any, is the main difference in the field of massage here in L.A. compared to your home town?

KF: The only experience I  had of massage in London was as the client and as a highly stressed Media Director it was always a pleasure to go somewhere where I was forced to relax and let my mind and body repair. A real difference is that in the UK massage is seen as a real luxury and a treat whereas in LA people really understand the importance of massage as part of their general health and well being which is a mindset change that I would really like to see happen back in the UK!

EB: Here the school brings much more focus on career planning and what happens after school. There was practically no guidance in that in The Netherlands. Everybody had to just figure that out for themselves. It is very professional here.

NHI: How are you finding living in the Los Angeles area? What do you see happening after graduation? Staying in the US or moving back home?

KF: My husband and I absolutely love LA! The people are great – fun and very interesting!!! Really, we have felt very welcome and of course you can’t fault the weather especially when you previously lived in London! Well the dream is that my husband and I get a visa and we can stay here in LA – I would love to start a business that combines fitness (spinning, Pilates, boot camp) with massage, all in all strengthening and improving peoples well being. However that will all depend on your Homeland Security, but if it’s meant to be it will happen so that’s what we have to believe! As my wonderful NHI mentor Craig says – “you have to believe in the process!”

EB: I LOVE it!!  Love the weather, love the people, love the food, and love my new apartment and roommates  The only thing I wish is that I could stay here forever visa wise, etc.  So if NHI has any tips on how to do that…PLEASE let me know!

NHI: Thank you, Kim and Ella, for sharing your experiences with us.  If it were up to NHI, you both could stay and thrive in the U.S. forever!  We’ll put in the best word we can with the government.  After all, if everyone got more massages, there would be less need for a Department of Homeland Security!