Thanksgiving Break is upon us, so Friday the Office for International Students and Scholars hosted its annual International Thanksgiving dinner Friday night in the Student Center.
About 80 international and American students had a traditional Thanksgiving meal.
“It's just a safe place for the international students to experience American culture, to learn the traditions of Thanksgiving and some of the things we have now like football, Black Friday shopping, the Macy's parade,” said Emily Boerman, an international student advisor who helped set up the dinner. “It's a brief introduction to those things.”
Klara Supejova, a Czech student majoring in sports management, said she came "to experience the holiday – to learn about it."
“One of our friends gifted the ticket,” Aishath Sanjny, a visiting scholar from the Maldives, said. “We were not planning to come. It was a gift."
“I came because we don't have it -- and to be involved in the Eastern international community,” said Adelle Schultz, an Australian student majoring in sports management. “And, to experience Thanksgiving."
A YouTube video was played to give the students a basic history of the holiday. There was also a raffle for the upcoming trip to the Greenfield Village tree lighting ceremony.
The video was an explanation of the history and modern traditions about the holidays. Each one of the tables then competed in a question and answer about the video.
In a corner by the door, a photo booth was set up with Thanksgiving themed props.
The traditional Thanksgiving food, including turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, cranberry sauce and gravy, was served buffet style.
“We ask that you try everything,” Boerman said.
