Budi Winursito has never experienced a Thanksgiving dinner.
“I’ve read that Thanksgiving is when Americans show their gratitude toward Native Americans,” Winursito said. “The food involves a large turkey dinner, and people go home to be with their families.”
Next month, however, Winursito may have his first opportunity to celebrate the American tradition thanks to a program offered by the International Affairs Commission of Student Senate.
The commission is organizing a Home for the Holidays program that will involve giving international students a home for Thanksgiving. Domestic students and community members will host an international student for the holiday.
Karen Martinez, a freshman studying political science and pre-law, applied to be a host family for the program. Martinez said she has traveled a lot, sparking an interest in other cultures.
“International students being here for college is interesting because most of them haven’t had the experience of Thanksgiving,” she said. “It’d be nice to share with them what our culture does on the holidays.”
Tiffany Schlein, the International Affairs Commissioner for Student Senate and a senior studying global studies and Spanish, said that although this is the program’s first year, they already have plans to make it a permanent program.
“International students want that cross-cultural exchange. They would like to meet Americans, practice their English and immerse themselves in our culture,” Schlein said. “They really do seek these opportunities in addition to educational ones.”
The IAC will play the role of matching students with one another by completion of an application. Once partners are assigned, the domestic students can decide their individual activities for Thanksgiving weekend.
“I look forward to spending time with them and getting to know their interests,” said Martinez. “I want to know if they have similar interactions with their families.”
Winursito has only been in America for three months and said he is looking forward to learning more about American culture.
“I thought this opportunity would be good so that I can learn about one aspect of American culture,” said Winursito. “I’ve read about (Thanksgiving) and seen it on TV, but it will be different when I experience it for myself.”
kr257109@ohiou.edu
