Exchange students at UNC make plans for the American holiday

Growing up in Glasgow, Scotland, junior Lucy Deeny learned everything she knows about Thanksgiving from American TV shows.

“Hopefully it will be like that because it looks amazing, but if not, it’ll still be great,” she said.

Deeny is one of about 600 undergraduate international and exchange students living in dorms who will have to make other arrangements as the dorms close for the break.

Rick Bradley, associate director of housing, said the dorms might remain open for Thanksgiving break next year.

“There are more and more international students coming to UNC each year,” he said. “We want to make sure we can accommodate them.”

Deeny plans to stay with her roommate’s family in Charlotte while her suitemates, also international students, travel to New York City.

“I’m having a real American experience,” she said.

Some international students spend Thanksgiving with host families through the UNC International Friendship Program.

The program has 75 host families and admits about 50 students a year. Jane Rosenberg, assistant director for international student services, said staying with hosts is a valuable learning experience.

“Very often, if the student has a host, the host family invites them over for Thanksgiving,” Rosenberg said. “Often, it’s the main event of the year. Many of them have never had a Thanksgiving dinner before and don’t know exactly what it means.”

Jan Hoyle, an International Friendship host of 10 years, has allowed international students to say at her house during Thanksgiving break, but most of her students travel.

Hoyle has hosted students from China, Japan, Germany and Australia, and keeps in touch with most of them.

“They’re like family to us,” Hoyle said. “They’re trying to share their culture, but they fit into campus life great.”

Other international students will be spending the break with friends. Freshman Chenjian Yang from Fuzhou, China will stay with his friend’s family in Kannapolis, North Carolina and is looking forward to experiencing his first Thanksgiving.

“I think it’s very important to be thankful for everything,” he said. “It’s really good for the United States to have a holiday like this.”

Easing Abroad Students’ Entry — a student-run program designed to help students get accustomed to American culture by pairing international students with an American counterpart — can help international students make traveling plans and get accustomed to American transportation.

Sophomore Katarina Terentieva, public relations chairwoman of EASE and Deeny’s mentor, said taking an international student into an American home can be beneficial to both the student and the host family.

“It’s a rewarding experience,” she said. “Not everyone can afford to travel, but being a mentor broadens your horizons without traveling.”

Some dorms will remain open for students who choose to stay on campus during the break. Bradley said most students who stay during the break are international students.

“We’re trying to provide more activities they can do during that period,” Bradley said. “That way, the students don’t feel quite as isolated.”

The Office of Student Affairs is inviting students to a Tar Heel Thanksgiving, a free dinner at the George Watts Hill Alumni Center.

No matter where she celebrates, Deeny said she is excited about her first Thanksgiving.

“I’m excited just to hang out, eat a lot of food and have a breather.”

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