For most Grand Valley State University students, this is a time they look forward to spending time with their family and enjoying some food. For others, circumstances may be slightly different. Many international students have yet to experience a Thanksgiving holiday, and many do this without the comforts of home.

While there are students like Francis Mangala, from Democratic Republic of Congo in Central Africa, who have celebrated Thanksgiving before, there are also others like Ahmed Lachheb, from Tunisia, and Gayane Kabalyan, from Armenia, who have not.

Some of what they know about the holiday has come straight from Hollywood.

“In Armenia, what people know about American holidays is just what they see in the movies or read in books,” Kabalyan said. “So we usually associate it with a lot of food, especially. But nobody really knows who Americans give thanks to and for what.”

Lachheb’s English and American studies major has helped him become more familiar with holidays such as Thanksgiving, which he was also able to view in many American movies.

Since being at GVSU, he said he has gained a richer understanding of the holiday.

“I have learned that this holiday is about gathering with family and be thankful for the good things in life,” Lachheb said.

It is a little different for Mangala, who has celebrated Thanksgiving in the DRC.

“In my country, Thanksgiving is about being grateful to God,” Mangala said.

Although some Americans share these ideas, there is much more that Mangala has learned about the holiday from an American perspective.

“I learned that we should be grateful for what we are, grateful for our families, grateful that God has granted us life,” Mangala said.

While this Thanksgiving may not be the same for international students, GVSU’s Padnos International Center does its best to include international students in this traditional American holiday by hosting a Thanksgiving dinner.

This year’s dinner was held on Friday at the Eberhard Center on GVSU’s Pew Campus. About 150 international students attended.

The celebration was much like what Mangala experienced before, even though it was a change to have turkey as the main dish. However, for him, it was a nice addition.

“I would definitely introduce the turkey in my future celebration, without forgetting the apple pie,” Mangala said. “It was really good.”

Sharing of Thanksgiving is not confined to the PIC though, as many students and faculty invite international students to their family celebrations. Some students such as Mangala are able to spend time with family that live in the area. Others, like Kabalyan, will be spending time with some other international students to attend more Thanksgiving events.

“They are my family while I am studying abroad,” Kabalyan said.

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