Through UFIC’s Friendship Families Program, international students spent Thanksgiving with their host families, sharing traditions, stories, and a welcoming home-cooked holiday experience. For many students, it was their first time celebrating an American Thanksgiving, making the day especially meaningful. Read their reflections below to learn what this experience meant to them.
“I hosted two international students for our Thanksgiving celebration, and it was a wonderful experience. We loved getting to know them and sharing the holiday together. I look forward to spending more time with them in the future.” - Margarita Bernal Santana
“The host family is super friendly and makes us feel welcome at their house! We had good time playing games and having food.” - I-Chan Li, Taiwan
“It was a fantastic experience, with Andreas Himmelreich joining our family for Thanksgiving dinner. He learned about American Thanksgiving traditions, and we learned a lot about Cologne, Germany. He was a wonderful guest and we truly enjoyed his company! Family picture attached with Andreas on the far right.” - Kathy Winburn
“Having Iya with us was so wonderful. He and my son got along so well. Iya jumped right in to help and seemed to have a wonderful time loving on our pets too. We look forward to seeing him again.” - Rachel Carpenter
“I loved the family that I was assigned with! They were very kind and made me feel as though I was celebrating one of the holidays from my country with my own family. In a way, it gave me then saved me from homesickness.” - Daniel Ben (Iya), Philippines
To learn more about the UFIC’s Friendship Families Program, visit this page.