Thanksgiving is an opportunity for international students to learn about a part of U.S. history.
Qabuli Palaw, kebabs and caldo de arroz are not foods traditionally seen on a Thanksgiving menu in the United States.
For international students, those are some staples eaten on traditional holidays that are celebrated back home and on Thanksgiving in the U.S. With 1,860 international students on campus in 2014 from more than 100 countries, according to the Office of Institutional Research, Ohio University makes for a melting pot of food and culture. Because Thanksgiving is an American holiday, many international students have never celebrated Thanksgiving before coming to the U.S.
“A lot of cultures look at it as a simple get-together with family,” Miguel Gomez, a senior studying astrophysics, said.
But for some, Thanksgiving is an unknown part of American culture.
“Before coming here, I had no idea what Thanksgiving was,” Hashim Pashtun, a Ph.D. student studying civil engineering from Afghanistan, said. “I saw on the calendar that we had three or four days off, so I knew it was something big. The only thing I knew (about Thanksgiving) was that turkey was the main thing eaten.”
To put his own spin on dinner, Pashtun decided to bring baklava, a traditional Afghani dessert.
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“My first Thanksgiving, it was something very different,” Pashtun said. “And of course, I felt very sleepy that day.”
But for many international students, different foods are served on Turkey Day.
“I was raised in a traditional Mexican family,” Gomez, who was born in Mexico, said. “We have a lot of spicy food for Thanksgiving. There’s a dish called ‘caldo de arroz,’ which is a soup made of rice with vegetables, beans and a lot of spicy ingredients in it. We also eat spicy turkey.”
Pashtun said his family in the U.S. celebrates Thanksgiving by getting together and eating turkey, but his family members put their own spin on the other dishes they eat. Kebabs, lamb and naan are some of the less traditional dishes they eat, Pashtun said.
Many faculty members and organizations throw dinners for international students who do not go home for the break.
“It was interesting to meet different people and see people from other countries,” Basel Al Saadi, a sophomore studying geography, said. “I don’t like Thanksgiving (food), but it was interesting to see new people.”
As for holidays back home, international students have celebrations that are similar to Thanksgiving here in the U.S.
In Oman and other Islamic countries, Eid al-Fitr, a religious holiday honoring Abraham, is celebrated with food, family and prayer, Al Saadi, said. Lamb, baba ganoush and hummus are eaten during the celebration, in contrast to turkey and stuffing.
As for Mexico, Gomez said Christmas and New Year's are big holidays when families get together to eat and celebrate.
But a favorite among international students, Pashtun said, is being able to come together with students from all over the world.
“It’s fun inviting someone over for a holiday and giving them the opportunity to explore your culture, your traditions, your food and letting them know why you do what you do,” Pashtun said. “I really appreciate that Americans, and especially the people that live around Athens, make the gesture to invite international students to their home and have them experience Thanksgiving.”
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