Before coming to college in the U.S., I never even questioned what breaks would mean for me as an international student. In my first year, many of my fellow international friends and I came across this seemingly silly yet relevent question – where do internationals go over break?
Yale has three major breaks every school year: October Break, Thanksgiving Break, and Spring Break. Many of our American peers went home to their families, but that wasn’t as simple of an option for international students. And so students often choose to take the classic NYC or Boston trip, travel with their friends, or simply relax on campus. I’ve found that being far from home has actually given me some cherished memories I probably wouldn’t have found otherwise–visiting old friends, going on day trips and adventures, and exploring undiscovered parts of New Haven and Connecticut.
One of these is the past Thanksgiving I spent. My friend Manaka, who I met through JASU (Japanese American Student Union), was kind enough to invite me along with two of my international friends, Rena and Lucas (from Japan and Hong Kong), to her home in New Jersey for Thanksgiving. A few of their Japanese family friends gather every year at her home in a celebration blending together American traditions and pieces of familiar Japanese culture, and we were welcomed into the tradition.
The night before Thanksgiving, we took a quick NYC excursion, had some yummy Korean food (pictured below), and then rode the bus into New Jersey.
Coincidentally enough, I also spent a few years of my childhood growing up in New Jersey pretty close to Manaka’s home. Going by on the bus and hearing her explain what certain supermarkets and streets meant to her childhood felt like a glimpse into what home felt like for her, as well as a reminder of what it meant for me.
Upon arrival, we were greeted by Manaka’s lovely mother who had us settled in with bags of snacks, and then had us help set up for the annual game tournament. The next morning, families and friends began to arrive, and the full-day celebration began.
The festivities were warm and lovely – there were endless plates of turkey and Japanese hot pot, with drinks and laughter across the table. I had my first ever turkey at Yale’s annual Harvest dinner, but this was one of my first times seeing a turkey come out of the oven and be cut in front of me. We also played an extensive series of games (which my team lost…), ranging from Musical Cups to balancing blocks.
Traveling home with a friend is a strange yet fond experience – you get a peek into a part of their world you don’t know. Being integrated into the home and their traditions, I was surprised at how at ease I felt, as if I was somewhere new and deeply familiar at the same time. There was something about the comfort of being in a house, eating home-cooked food, and feeling the warmth of a family environment that I didn’t realize I missed so much. To experience that somewhere far from home with dear friends found at Yale made the experience even more special, and this day remains one of my favorite memories.
A special thank you to Manaka and her family for being so welcoming :)
