Many international students are not able to see their families for Thanksgiving because of the costs of traveling halfway around the world.
To let these students know they are not alone, the International Cultural Center and the International Hospitality Foundation are hosting a Thanksgiving dinner for them.
Many students who are unable to see their families for the Thanksgiving holidays go to the annual dinner, which gives them the next-best taste of a family gathering, spending time with each other.
Traditional Thanksgiving food will be served. Different desserts are brought in by students.
Harald Leder, assistant director of the office of international programs, said the ICC holds activities so international students who are unable to go home will not be alone for the entire holiday.
“Many international students go back home, but there are a good number who don’t have anywhere to go for the holidays,” Leder said.
Leder said while the ICC does not hold events for religious holidays that may exclude students, it will host a Thanksgiving dinner because it does not exclude anyone.
“We decided to have a dinner for them since this is a part of American culture,” Leder said. “This is not just for international students. We offer them an opportunity to celebrate Thanksgiving with the American students who are stranded as well.”
Leder said the turkeys come from donations brought in by the IHF. Other complimentary foods, such as beans and sweet potatoes, are cooked by members of the IFC.
Leder said the ICC and IHF asks students to bring desserts and soft drinks.
“We sometimes get some interesting desserts,” Leder said. “One time we got a dessert from Germany, and a separate time we got one from Africa.”
Abhilash Srinivas, an agriculture sophomore, said he will be at the dinner for the first time because he will not be able to go back to India, his native country, for Thanksgiving because of traveling costs.
Srinivas said meeting other people who cannot go home will be a good experience for him.
“I miss my family,” Srinivas said. “I met a lot of people similar to me who are away from home and have similar feelings. It also will be a good way to have fun, my other friends will be there, and my roommates will also.”
Ishita Sharma, ICC student worker and architecture junior, said a little more than 100 students usually attend the dinner.
Sharma said because many students are attending the dinner, they need more volunteers.
Sharma said it would be nice if more people would volunteer, but acknowledges it is hard to get people out of their own Thanksgiving traditions.
“They usually help with the setup; it’s a huge room,” Sharma said. “They help lay out the food and tables and help serve.”
Sharma said the volunteer work, while it may not be easy, does not go unappreciated.
“We usually get a lot of e-mails thanking us for the dinner,” Sharma said. “And the fact that they show up speaks for itself.”
Thanksgiving meal offered to students
November 26, 2003