Thanksgiving 101: How to Celebrate if You're an International Student
By Mahidhar Sai Lakkavaram
Content
If you're an international student it can be difficult during the breaks, especially being far away from you family. Thanksgiving is one of those timeless American holidays that you always hear about and there’s so much to do if it’s not something you are used to. Here’s my how-to Thanksgiving guide to make the most of the break if you’re an international student.
Check out the fall colors
Love, love, LOVE the fall colors during this time. During the semester, it can get so hard to take in our surroundings and see how beautiful the scenery is, especially in Western Massachusetts. Try going around to scenic places during this break and checking out the colors. Most of the New England states have good spots for leaf-peeping (I have heard Vermont and New Hampshire make for great fall colors sightings)
The history behind Thanksgiving
Contrary to popular belief, Thanksgiving isn’t as peachy as a holiday as one might think. There’s a lot to learn about the Wampanoag tribe and so many sources to refer to. I’m a big reader, so I recommend David Silverman’s book This Land Is Their Land: The Wampanoag Indians, Plymouth Colony, and the Troubled History of Thanksgiving. It's a great way to educate yourself about what actually happened.
Try Thanksgiving food
From the iconic turkey to cranberry sauce, there’s so many different types of food to try around this holiday. My personal favorite? Sweet potato pie! Here’s a list of all the incredible food to try if it's your first Thanksgiving, maybe you can attempt making some of these as well! There’s also numerous drinks to try, apple cider is just so good!
Catch up with family and friends
Use this time to focus on your community!
We can lose so much time getting so busy during this semester, especially as we near the end. Use these few days to strengthen your connection with your loved ones and catch up with what’s been going on in their lives, and tell them about everything that’s going on in yours!
What are you thankful for?
And lastly, what are you thankful for? Thanksgiving can be a great time to acknowledge all of our privilege and to introspect about what we’re grateful for. Whether that’s your friends and family, the opportunities you’ve been given, or just the food in general, think about everything that you have and take this time to cherish it!