Foreign
students share holiday
By Yi-Fang Vicky Lin
On-line Forty-Niner
Thanksgiving’s
purpose especially stands out among some
American families and international students
at Cal State Long Beach.
Some
American families will give international
students a home, celebrate the “thanks”
and the “giving” by sharing turkey together.
“I
think it’s good for people to get together
and share together,” said Tere Ross, the
host mother of one American family. “It’s
a very natural way to learn about each other
over a table. I think it is a good and comfortable
way for international students to learn
about us.”
Ross
has invited overseas students from various
countries three to four times for Thanksgiving
dinner in the past. This year is not an
exception for Ross’ family to share their
love with international students.
Ross
is a member of the International Community
Council. The ICC at Long Beach was established
in 1970. It has long been actively involved
in assisting international students on campus
by providing accommodation and developing
various types of cultural exchange activities.
Another
host family, Barbara Parks, will be inviting
two international students from England
and Japan for the Thanksgiving dinner.
“My
son lived in Japan for three years where
he met Kyoko, who’s now his wife and my
daughter-in-law,” Parks said. “In my travels,
I have especially been the recipient of
wonderful hospitality in a number of countries,
especially Israel, Egypt, Fiji, Japan and
New Zealand. So this is a way for me to
reciprocate.”
According
to Simon George, director of ICC, he said
the organization seeks to enhance global
awareness and sensitivity to many diverse
cultures in our community.
“The
ICC assists international students and visitors
who are in the area because of interests
in education, recreation, business, government
or world trade,” George added.
The
ICC arranges for international students
to stay with an American host family under
students’ requests under the program called
the Friendship Family Program.
According to Parks.
“We
will prepare turkey, of course, stuffing,
mashed potatoes and vegetables,” Ross said.
“Just like the traditional American Thanksgiving
dinner with a large family, members will
come and share together,” Ross said.
Cultural
exchanges will automatically occur over
the Thanksgiving dinner table. They will
discuss what kind of food they eat, and
what it is like to share thanks and appreciation
for students’ native countries, Ross added.
Ray
Dou, a junior business international student
at CSULB, shared his past Thanksgiving experience
as a guest of an American family. As an
international student far away from home,
he said he appreciated these American families
treating him like one of the family members.
“Because
they think it’s the time for relatives to
get together,” Dou said. “I think it was
a good opportunity to share cultures with
Americans, and international students can
compare their own cultures with American.”
“They
gave me a home-like kind of warm feelings
last Thanksgiving,” Dou added.
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