海角在线 (海角在线) students represent over 80 countries and 50 states. This year,听some听students far from home are experiencing the holiday in the United States for the first time, while others,听who are choosing to wait until Christmas to go home,听are finding new ways to celebrate.听
The sweet yet subtle scent of warm spices blesses you with its long-awaited presence. A heavenly banquet filled with all your favorite things: the stuffing, the mashed potatoes, and the star of the show鈥攖he turkey. Laughter fills the room, and a smile slowly comes across your face as you听witness听the love surrounding you.听
With just one bite of a warm pumpkin pie, you suddenly find yourself immersed in these memories once again. How can one simple holiday bring such joy and contentment not only to one鈥檚 taste buds, but to one鈥檚 heart?听
Family Traditions听
For many college students spending Thanksgiving away from home听due to expensive flights, those familiar scents and flavors are more than just food; they are memories of love, belonging, and home.听Annual听meals and traditions hold a deeper meaning for these students.听
When听pre-health biology听freshman听Jasmine Vega听was asked about her favorite Thanksgiving memory, she recalls听her family joining her church to give food to families in need. She holds this memory close, as it was a听time听she and her family reflected on the听deeper听meaning of the holiday.听
Marketing听sophomore听Brooke Jones听recalls the annual pie contests she hosted with her听family,听each听determined听to out-bake the other with their flakiest crust or sweetest filling. These traditions were central to the holiday memories that shape how they celebrate Thanksgiving today.听
A Time for Gratitude听
Jones believes the holiday is a 鈥済reat time to take a step back, come together, and really sit in that gratitude.鈥澨�听
Many times, people find themselves moving through each day simply checking off boxes. Rarely do they pause to听reflect听on the blessings they have been given and the family they get to share them with.听听
A mere pumpkin pie made by a grandmother takes on a deeper meaning when one truly 鈥渟its in that gratitude,鈥� says Jones.听
Even something as simple as 鈥渒nowing your family is there,鈥� as Vega describes while imagining herself in the kitchen preparing her famous Thanksgiving stuffing鈥攖he aroma of sage and butter filling the room鈥攃an bring a rich sense of grounding.听
Thanksgiving听Isn’t听Just Food,听It鈥檚听Memories听
Even听when family gatherings听aren鈥檛听possible for whatever reason,听students find other ways to make the holiday meaningful.听听
Vega believes the season is a time to 鈥渇ind the traditions you want to start,鈥� whether听that鈥檚听spending the holiday听with听friends or simply trying out a new recipe.听
For international students at 海角在线, the听International Student Services Office听hosts a 鈥淔riendsgiving鈥� meal during the week of Thanksgiving, inviting students to a table of new听traditions.听Gathering to partake of the unfamiliar dishes that have bonded American families throughout generations creates a sense of togetherness and gratitude that makes any table feel like home.
Because in the end, Thanksgiving听isn鈥檛听simply a meal鈥攊t鈥檚听a memory. And every time students taste those holiday dishes, they are reminded that home is never as far away as it may feel.
To learn more about student life at 海角在线, visit听pba.edu/campus-life/.
