With Thanksgiving break around the corner, students can momentarily forget about their studies and spend time with their loved ones before jumping into the chaos of final exams. Once exams finish, the end of the fall semester marks the beginning of college students’ great migration back to their homes.
Thanksgiving break is one week long, which gives some international students the option to go back home or pass the time with their friends. Last year, Robin Gemanaru, sophomore biochemistry and molecular biology major, stayed on campus with some friends. He found that Thanksgiving break was an opportunity to do activities that students miss out on during the semester.
“We have time to do stuff that we don’t have time to do during the school year, such as go to the movies. We went to the gym together, like more often. We played board games and such,” Gemanaru said.
During Thanksgiving and winter breaks, there are activities that students who are staying on campus can attend. Trinity’s Outdoor Recreation (OREC) club has a Thanksgiving trip in west Texas this year, and the Trinity University Volunteer Action Community (TUVAC) often has trips to different places, called Tiger Breaks, in which students spend their time away from school doing volunteer work. Gemanaru signed up to be hosted by a family for Thanksgiving dinner.
“There are a lot of resources for international students or students that are on campus during these breaks. I signed up for a host family Thanksgiving dinner. That’s really interesting to have for people who would be here for Thanksgiving,” Gemanaru said.
With the winter season come traditions that students can’t replicate in a dorm room. Juliana Castro, sophomore neuroscience major from Bogota, Colombia, misses “Velitas,” a tradition in Colombia where families light candles and pray for the next year in observance of the Immaculate Conception.
“I think it is one of the prettiest traditions we have. And usually, in my neighborhood, we would start sharing Christmas cookies and just talking,” Castro said. “[Last year,] I just went outside on the walkway and I lit a couple of candles, and that was my way of celebrating. But it’s very different.”
While international students may miss out on traditions from back home they get to experience traditions that don’t occur in their country of origin. For example, many countries don’t celebrate Thanksgiving. For some students, going to school in the U.S. is a way to celebrate these holidays for the first time.
“I had my first Thanksgiving last year, and I freaking love the food.” Castro said. “I went back home, and I was like, ‘What I would do for an H-E-B chocolate pecan pie right now.’”
In some cases, there are traditions that students wish they shared with the United States. Natalia Santos, senior psychology major from Honduras, mentioned that she enjoys stockings.
“We don’t do stockings back home, and here, many people make stockings with every person’s name from the family written on them. That’s so sweet to me because it’s many thoughtful gifts that you can give to each person in the family, ” Santos said.
Going to school abroad is a way for students to separate their lives at home and academics. Ane Castillo, junior neuroscience major from Costa Rica, shared that going to school abroad keeps her family and academic life separate.
“I feel like I’m living two different lives because nobody from here is back home. Literally, the place is different. The characters in the story are different every day. So when I go back home, I just feel like college is a dream. And when I come here, my home feels like a dream,” Castillo said.
Senior international students face different circumstances than they have in previous years. Santos is deliberating between going back home during winter break or renewing her student visa.
“If I leave the country, I will lose my visa application. I will just be denied automatically, but if I stay, I’m going to lose Christmas with my family,” Santos said. “I’m doing my work. I’m doing the applications. I call my parents every single day. So everything should work. And if it doesn’t, it’s because it’s for a reason.”
Despite the complexities of being an international student, it’s a unique experience. Santos expressed that her parents are supportive, and she is grateful for her opportunity to be an international student.
“I’m happy to be an international student. I mean, I know that it may be much simpler to just not be an international student, but I honestly wouldn’t have it any other way,” Santos said.
