The University of Wisconsin–Madison is home to over 7,000 international students from more than 120 different countries. For some students, visiting home means a long flight and an uncomfortable middle seat. But with fall break just around the corner, many international students are bringing fresh perspectives to Thanksgiving.
As a kid, Marianne Picard always wanted to play Division I ice hockey in the United States. The 23-year-old star player on the Wisconsin women's hockey team first moved to Madison from Montreal, Quebec five years ago. For Marianne, this year’s fall break doesn’t mean a long weekend of food coma-induced laziness. Instead, her team will be playing a tournament series in Nashville against some of the nation’s top teams.
Marianne said she was able to experience a classic Thanksgiving last year at a friend's house. “I was scared of the green bean casserole,” she joked. “But, I loved the pumpkin pie. I had also never tried stuffing until I came to the U.S. and it’s my favorite.”
This year, Marianne said that rather than her team’s typical hotel dinner, the coaches are planning a Thanksgiving feast at a restaurant to celebrate the holiday.
Other international students are using the time off as an opportunity to explore the U.S. Tahar Jabnoun, a sophomore from Tunisia studying finance, said he plans to take full advantage of his time away from class to meet up with family in Miami and visit South Florida.
“My sister and cousins are also studying in the U.S., so we decided to meet up there,” he said. “Since I’m not really used to the traditional holidays, I’m just trying to enjoy the break.”
Tahar said some of his friends will be joining the Arab Student Association for their annual Arabsgiving event. The potluck style dinner will take place at the Red Gym on Nov. 20 and is open to all university students, staff and faculty.
Esther Roux-Bourgeois, a 23-year-old teaching assistant from France, said she’s excited to compare an authentic Thanksgiving to those she grew up watching in American movies. For her first Thanksgiving, Esther will join her friend's family in Milwaukee.
“I’m really excited for the food, cooking and sharing of a meal,” she said. “I’m also interested in Native American arts and culture. I know the holiday was related to the potluck tradition that Native Americans did in their cultures, so there is also a lot that I’m interested in regarding Thanksgiving and how it has transformed over the years.”
Thanksgiving is different for everyone, and international students across campus will be making use of their days off in various exciting ways. Whether it’s eating a socially unacceptable amount of mashed potatoes or simply taking the long weekend off to relax, one thing is clear — most students are ready for a break.
