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11 Things Only International Students Can Relate To When It Comes To Thanksgiving

If you're not from the States, your first American Thanksgiving experience goes something like this.

Dian Mak

Nov 17, 2015

Tufts University

11 Things Only International Students Can Relate To When It Comes To Thanksgiving

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Turkey. That’s probably the first and only thing that would ever pop up in our minds when it comes to Thanksgiving. As two international students, we had no idea Thanksgiving was a thing before coming to the States, not to mention to be prepared to even leave campus on the week-long holiday. Here are the 11thoughts we have when people ask for our Thanksgiving plans while home is 30,000+ miles away. *insert upside-down smiley emoji*

1. TF is Thanksgiving?

2. I wasn’t aware that Americans were a population of extremely grateful people.

3. Do turkeys symbolize thanks? Is it a sacrificial thing?

4. What’s the Turkey Dump? Is that just a euphemism for turkey poop? Is that also a symbol for gratitude?

5. Native Americans? Did they start this? No? Americans started it? What….?

6. WTF the entire school is actually shut down during Thanksgiving?!

I thought it was just a normal holiday...like Veteran’s Day or Columbus Day. Dewick’s not open, Carm’s not open, Campus Center’s not open, and worst of all, literally NO ONE is staying on campus. Am I going to have the whole Houston hall alone? That’s actually really creepy.

7. Where should I go now for Thanksgiving…

Now is the moment you curse at yourself for not having enough international friends, but trips to anywhere are pricey as hell! Would it be awkward if I ask my passive aggressive roommate if she could take me home for Thanksgiving? Sorry not sorry I’m desperate.

8. What’s the Black Friday Sale? Why isn’t it on a 13th? Why are people so crazy about it?

I thought Black Friday was on a 13th? Wow people actually hit the mall in the middle of the night for this? This is insane! It’s like "Confessions of a Shopaholic." Americans…

9. Everyone is Instagramming Thanksgiving dinner

What even is a typical Thanksgiving dinner? Literally all I know is a turkey. I don’t even know that there are different ways to cook it. And pumpkin pie?! Damn, I wish I had an American family. Somebody adopt me please!

10. I just want this break to end so my friends are back again...

11. How much longer do I have to be alone here?

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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11 Things Only International Students Can Relate To When It Comes To Thanksgiving

If you're not from the States, your first American Thanksgiving experience goes something like this.

1. TF is Thanksgiving?

2. I wasn’t aware that Americans were a population of extremely grateful people.

3. Do turkeys symbolize thanks? Is it a sacrificial thing?

4. What’s the Turkey Dump? Is that just a euphemism for turkey poop? Is that also a symbol for gratitude?

5. Native Americans? Did they start this? No? Americans started it? What….?

6. WTF the entire school is actually shut down during Thanksgiving?!

7. Where should I go now for Thanksgiving…

8. What’s the Black Friday Sale? Why isn’t it on a 13th? Why are people so crazy about it?

9. Everyone is Instagramming Thanksgiving dinner

10. I just want this break to end so my friends are back again...

11. How much longer do I have to be alone here?

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Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

It's mandatory to have these conversations.

1. What do you do for a living?

2. What's your favorite color?

3. Do you have any siblings?

4. What's your favorite television show?

5. When is your birthday?

6. What's your biggest goal in life?

7. If you had three wishes granted to you by a genie, what would they be?

8. What's your favorite childhood memory?

9. If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?

10. Are you a cat or a dog person?

11. Do you believe in a religion or any sort of spiritual power?

12. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?

13. What is your ideal date night?

14. Who was/is your celebrity crush?

15. What's a good way to cheer you up if you're having a bad day?

16. Do you have any tattoos?

17. Can you describe yourself in three words?

18. What makes you the most nervous in life?

19. What's the best gift you have ever received?

20. What do you do to relax/have fun?

21. What are your priorities at this phase of your life?

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

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Doing the friendly wave to every boat you pass.

The cooler is always packed, mostly with beer.

Giving the idiot who goes 30 in a "No Wake Zone" a piece of your mind.

You have no problem with peeing in the water.

You know the frustration of getting your anchor stuck.

Watching in awe at the bigger, better boats that pass by.

Knowing any swimsuit that you own with white in it is best left for the pool or the ocean.

The momentary fear for your life as you get launched from the tube.

You're able to go to the restaurants by the water wearing minimal clothing.

Having unexpected problems with your boat.

Having a name for your boat unique to you and your life.

There's no better place you'd rather be in the summer.

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

1. My school is incredibly unique.

2. I am not just a number at my school.

3. I feel like I am contributing something to the community.

5. My professors know me and I feel that I can easily communicate with them.

6. The incredible people I've met

7. Opportunities

8. Students want to learn

9. Ability to join a sorority and have a house full of people I know I can talk to anytime I need to

10. I have figured out how I learn best because my school offers so many different ways of learning.

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