International Education

International students gather for Thanksgiving feast

ISSO, IE, international education,

icon of a calendarNovember 26, 2019

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International students gather for Thanksgiving feast

OU International students, along with faculty and staff, gathered around tables at the inaugural International Thanksgiving Dinner for an American cultural experience.

Students from around the world – China, India, Japan, Russia, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia and more – feasted on traditional Thanksgiving fare of turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie with whipped cream. The Office of Global Engagement hosted the event.

“Pumpkin pie received mixed reviews,” said Melissa Vervinck, director of ESL Institute. “Pumpkin in pie form is a new concept for some international students; many were less enthusiastic while others went back for seconds.”

Most of the students arrived in the United States in September and are experiencing local holidays for the first time.

“There were long conversations about how mashed potatoes are different in Russia and in Ukraine,” said Rosemary Max, Ed.D., executive director of the Office of Global Engagement.

The event supported the Golden Grizzlies’ Pantry through food donations made by dinner attendees. The Golden Grizzlies’ Pantry provides food and community resources to those in need.

The Office of Global Engagement promotes the global mobility of students and faculty and the worldwide visibility of Oakland University. Members of the Global Engagement team  believe in the transformative power of global engagement and its positive impact on individuals, Oakland University, Michigan and the world.

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