OIP helps int'l students enjoy a trad. Thanksgiving

This Thursday, when you're stuffing your face with a last piece of turkey that you probably don't need, take a moment to think of what your fellow Penn students are doing. Most will be at home, enjoying the company of their families and friends, while eating the traditional foods we've all come to know and love. For the international students and faculty left on campus during the holiday, however, it can be a lonely time. The Office of International Programs is working to alleviate some of that loneliness by giving international students the chance to experience Thanksgiving with an American host family. According to OIP international student advisor DeeYinn Leong, "International students can feel left out when they get stuck on campus while all their American friends go home." But the program offers more than a cure for loneliness -- students also get a chance to experience American culture firsthand, outside the realm of academics. "Students get a cultural experience they could otherwise miss," Leong noted. "We had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner and talked a lot about American culture and people," said Wharton doctoral student and Shanghai, China resident Bin Gu, who participated in the program last year. The program can also serve to break down stereotypes for those on both sides of the program. In fact, international students often report their host experiences to be the highlights of their stays in America. The opportunity to interact with a real American family can provide students with lasting memories of America, rather than just a degree. "We had a wonderful turkey dinner with my family; we watched football," said Tianjie Gao, a graduate student in the College of Arts and Sciences and native of China. "We talked about America and China, the culture, the economy, the politics and sports." Families that want to host international students apply by filling out an application through the OIP. Host families are usually related to Penn in some way, though hosts need not be affiliated with the University. The only requirement is that they be open-minded and willing to share their homes and cultures. "Making the international population feel at home is what's important," Leong said. For more information about the Thanksgiving exchange program, contact the OIP at 898-4661, or e-mail Leong directly at deeyinn@dolphin.upenn.edu.