Written by Cianna Jay // Graphic by Ben Evans
For many international students, University breaks involve staying in the United States rather than returning home. These students have to find alternative plans for their time off, and with campus housing closed during breaks, accommodations elsewhere.
Junior Lauren Service, who lives in Canada, said the International Student Services office sends out an email to international students asking them about their plans for the break. If a student does not have a planned place to go, the office will place them in a faculty or staff member’s home or with someone in the community.
Sophomore Kelmen de Carvalho, a member of the men’s track team, said he stayed in a teammate’s apartment during Thanksgiving break because of how long the trip back home takes.
“The break is just too short to travel all the way back to Germany,” de Carvalho said. “The trip takes me almost a day.”
Over the break, de Carvalho said he spent his time cooking since the cafeteria was closed, hanging out with international teammates, and resting from classes and practices.
Sophomore Cella Nguema said she stayed in Searcy during the break to practice for the Dec. 8 track meet. She said she knew she would return home to France for winter break shortly after Thanksgiving.
Some Harding faculty and staff offer Thanksgiving celebrations for those staying in the area during the break. Nguema said Don Hood, the head cross-country and track coach, invited students to his house for a Thanksgiving meal with his family.
“For the day of Thanksgiving, I went to my coach’s house,” Nguema said. “He’s always doing something for Thanksgiving with the team here because he knows that some people are staying.”
Service, a forward on the women’s soccer team, said she spent the break in Dallas with a teammate and her family and friends. Service said while they celebrate Thanksgiving in Canada, their Thanksgiving occurs on the second Monday in October and her experience with U.S. Thanksgiving has been different from back home.
“Of course, I want to go home and see my family, but it’s nice to explore other cultures and family norms,” Service said. “Although Canadians celebrate, American Thanksgiving always looks a bit different. It’s a bit more celebrated in America with family traditions and football games to watch.”
