Thursday, November 23, 2000
International students happy
to partake
By Loretta Fulton
Reporter-News Staff Writer
Turkey and dressing reminds Albanian Arjet
Skenduli of home. But for him, today is the wrong day to eat it.
Albanians chow down on the traditional American
Thanksgiving meal on New Year’s Eve. But Skenduli and other
international students living in Abilene aren’t complaining
about the date. They’ve grown to love the American meal even
if they don’t comprehend its origins, which are based on
the first Thanksgiving celebrated by pilgrims and their Indian
neighbors in 1621.
In the eyes of international students, the
day seems to have an entirely different significance.
“It’s a lot of eating,” said
Russian Marina Boyko, a junior at Abilene Christian University.
Skenduli and Boyko are among about 260 international
students at ACU, and a few others at McMurry and Hardin-Simmons
universities, who usually go home with American friends for the
Thanksgiving holiday. Many have come to love the traditional turkey,
dressing, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pies that Americans associate
with the holiday.
Even if their homelands don’t have
a similar day of giving thanks, the students have their own holidays
and traditions that include an emphasis on eating.
New Year’s Eve is a major holiday in
many countries, with a big family meal being a main ingredient.
In Russia, that meal features chicken and mashed potatoes, with
a party to follow.
“We would have dinner and then go somewhere
to have a real party with our friends,” Boyko said.
In her home country of Thailand, Panchit
Wongviriyawong enjoyed celebrating the Chinese New Year with her
family, including a big dinner. The American Thanksgiving observation
is similar with its emphasis on food, for which Wongviriyawong
has developed a taste. Turkey is a favorite.
“Pumpkin pie is so-so,” she said.
“But I like turkey.”
Last Thanksgiving, Scarlet Chan of Macau,
China, spent the holiday with a friend in Dallas. The family helped
with serving a meal at a church for the homeless, which gave Chan
a better understanding of the true spirit of the holiday season.
She liked the food, too, but still misses
a Chinese favorite — moon cakes. Made from a fruit called
“durian,” moon cakes are consumed during the traditional
moon festival, which is in August each year.
“The moon is most beautiful at that
time,” Chan said.
International students don’t have any
problem joining in the fun of a Thanksgiving Day dinner with their
American friends. But football is a different matter.
For many Americans, Thanksgiving wouldn’t
be Thanksgiving without a day of continuous games to watch on
television. But international guests are likely to choose something
else, said Boyko.
Her own preference is something that’s
more likely to keep her awake after a huge meal.
“I like a scary movie,” she said.
Contact higher education writer Loretta
Fulton at 676-6778 or fultonl@abinews.com.
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Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
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