Center for International Programs

Most international students are unable (or find it cost prohibitive) to make an overseas trip during the short Thanksgiving holiday. So when the campus clears out, they come together.   

Lily Nti-Kyermeh '23 can count on one hand the number of times she's eaten turkey in her life. Back home in Ghana, a turkey is considered "a big chicken" and a delicacy. Turkey is served only at the fanciest occasions, which makes Americans' fascination with the big chicken a bit unusual. But, Lily is happy to play along for one reason... the stuffing. 

"Christmas is my favorite season, but my second favorite holiday has definitely become Thanksgiving. I love the stuffing. I could eat it all day, every day. Oh, and the turkey is nice too." 

Lily is president of the International Student Association and she helped to plan a Friendsgiving for international students on Thanksgiving eve (some students were invited to spend the actual holiday with the families of friends and roommates). More than 30 students attended the feast in the Foy Hall lobby, and enjoyed the traditional favorites (with extra stuffing). But, it was an international student affair, so Lily wasted to involve international flavors.

The turkey and American sides (provided by Siena Fresh) shared space on the table with Indian and Pakistani cuisine, including samosas (fried pastry with potato filling) and chicken and vegetable biryani (rice dishes with plenty of spices and flavors). Plus, members of the Muslim Student Association provided the desserts. For many of the international freshmen, it was their first Thanksgiving (Lily was exposed to mashed potatoes for the first time last year, and now makes them herself all the time). Beyond the news tastes though, Lily believes that Thanksgiving is really about the friends.

"It was so nice and so refreshing being with the other students. We were all able to interact and share stories with some good music and great food. It was so fun to catch up and spend time with people you don't often see because of our hectic schedules during the semester."

Before her first bite of stuffing, Lily offered a toast...

"It's been a crazy year, but there's so much we can all be grateful for. I feel privileged to be gaining an education, especially in the United States, and especially here. I'm grateful for the opportunities and for everything I've been exposed to. And I'm grateful for the friendship I share with each of you."

Lily Nti-Kyeremeh '23, president of the International Student Association 

"We celebrated Friendsgiving by being thankful for the opportunity we all had for being here, alive and well through the pandemic, with good food and company! It was amazing to see all the students attend the event and enjoy getting to know new students and spend some quality time with the friends. We had some good music playing, students dancing and enjoying their time which was our main goal!"

Maanya Viswanath '23, vice president of the International Student Association