Holidays on Campus: An International Outlook

Thanksgiving is a time which allows Truman’s international students to celebrate a truly-American holiday.

            On the fourth Thursday every November, Americans across the country celebrate with a day of thanks.  A few days off of school and work provide much needed relaxation in a society that is often traveling at a non-stop pace.  It is a time for reflection and being thankful for the many positives in our lives.  Many people attend a church service, others sit on the couch and watch endless hours of football; for the majority of Truman students, it is a time to push school and homework to the furthest reaches of their brains and go home.  Reuniting with extended family members, catching up with old friends that are back in town, and while this is tradition for most American students, for a small portion at Truman, this is a totally foreign concept simply because, well, they are foreign.

            There are approximately 200 international students that represent 46 countries at Truman, and very few of them have any experience with Thanksgiving in .  Melanee Crist, the Assistant Director of International Education, says it is common for many international students to go home for Thanksgiving holidays with their American roommates; however, some do not have this opportunity.  With the break only being a few days long, some international students opt just to stay in Kirksville . 

          Crist says that often a small group will stay and cook up a dinner, but this becomes an issue if the students reside on campus in one of the dorms.  On Nov. 25, the residence halls will lock their doors at 6 p.m.; all dining halls will be closed as well.  Students may choose to stay in their rooms but must obtain a key to the back doors of their building if they want to stay.   

            It is not just international students who are affected by this holiday break though.  Truman has many students that are from regions of the other than the Midwest and whether it is gas prices or an expensive plane ticket, some of these students just cannot afford to go home. 

Ben Hoyt, a junior from Eagle Rock, Va., says that he would love to go home, but gas prices as of late have left him staying in Kirksville for the break.  For Hoyt, this year will probably be the same as last.  He will be preparing a nice, home-cooked turkey and all the fixings, for one.  Hoyt does not mind being by himself and insists the time away allows him to relax and maybe even pick up some work at the student recreation center or the SUB and earn a little extra money for the semester.

            Fortunately for students like Hoyt, and any students for that matter, who are staying in Kirksville for Thanksgiving, there is another option.  A local couple, Jill and Mac McCord, put together a huge Thanksgiving feast at their house for any student who does not have anywhere to go.  According to students who have attended previous years, along with great food and company, students can watch TV, put their feet up, and enjoy the holiday right.  The McCords could not be reached for comment.

            In past years, there have been local churches such as the Methodist church as well as the Country Side Christian Church that have put together a Thanksgiving dinner for not only students but community members as well.  However, due to either short numbers or other circumstances, they have decided against it this year but will be providing a similar dinner over the Christmas break instead.

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Thanksgiving in Kirksville