Study in the USA - Student Blog

Lots of food… nice company…fun time….

Aren’t these not part of the experiences we face when we celebrate thanksgiving in the United States?

I have to say that I found myself surrounded by amazing people, making me feel so welcomed, and in a family setting, which sometimes is necessary being so far away from home. It has been about 3 months since I was home last and I sure miss it.

As an international student, I have found myself finding times when I miss my family and I miss home more than ever. Especially when everybody is saying “I’m going to go home, yeih! Tomorrow my dad will come pick me up…” and when they ask me: “What are you doing for this break? Are you going home?” I find myself wishing I could go back home as well, but it is not so easy being so far away.

I am grateful that I found myself in a place where hands have been reached to me for me to feel less homesick. For example, there is a program in the University called Friendship Families, where families invite the international students to have Thanksgiving dinner at their house. Another example is when professors and faculty call me inviting me to their homes as well. Just like this, the International Office and International Student Association organizes a dinner where all international students and anybody else who wants to come can celebrate together a dinner typical of the American holiday of Thanksgiving. In my case, this year I was surrounded by a great family. I had the opportunity to travel to Missouri and taste great foods, such as turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cauliflower/broccoli salad, strawberry jelly, pumpkin pie ( one of my favorites!), pumpkin cheese pie, cherry cheesecake, strawberry rhubarb, and delicious apple pie. I sure did eat a lot… I have to say that it is so much better than dorm food

I know for a fact that in Mexico, Thanksgiving as a traditional holiday is not celebrated, and by this same reason, it has started to grow on me the longer I live in the United States.

Being far away from home, can seem like a time where we miss out of a lot of our culture’s development. But what we forget and put to the side sometimes, is that we should take advantage of every experience that we face in our lives, especially as international students. In this case, we have to learn from the experience of Thanksgiving in the United States.

Thanks to all the people that make international students feel welcomed during the holidays! Thanks to the people that made me enjoy this thanksgiving, and that showed me fun a time! Also, thanks to the people that thought of me during the holidays! Happy Thanksgiving!