Int'l Students Face Dilemma

As Thanksgiving break quickly approaches, many students are excited for their return home, especially new students preparing for their first break at Exeter. However, after the shortening of Thanksgiving break to compensate for less Saturday classes, international students are faced with a new dilemma: whether to make the lengthy trip home or not.

International Student Coordinator and English instructor Christine Knapp portrayed the situation as a “lose-lose situation” for international students at a Faculty Meeting.

When faculty discussion of proposals began last year for ways to make up for missing Saturday classes in the new academic schedule, International Student Coordinator and English instructor Christine Knapp portrayed the situation as a “lose-lose situation” for international students at a Faculty Meeting.“If we make the break nine days, it becomes really almost too short for some kids to go home, but if we keep it at two weeks, it would be too long for kids to go home at someone’s house,” Knapp said. “I was concerned about kids who couldn’t afford to go home twice in such a short period because it’s difficult on kids physically; if they really struggle with jet lag, and that’s really exhausting. There’s also the expense which, for some students, the tickets home are expensive and to have two trips home so close together is a hardship.”Like Knapp described, for some international students, the shortening of Thanksgiving break means that they cannot go home.“I am not going back home because the break is too short for me to go back to South Korea. It takes 14 hours from New York to Seoul,” prep Mary Woo complained. Instead of returning home, she is spending Thanksgiving with a family friend in Boston.Prep Jadetawat Thanakornyathin from Thailand, who will also be staying in Boston, quoted the same reason for not going home. “The break is only one week. With the flight trip to and from Thailand taking up to two days, coupled with jetlag, I would only be really spending three days at home.”For those international students who find difficulty going home during Thanksgiving break, Knapp, in conjunction with the Office of Multicultural Affairs, finds host families that are willing to have international students stay over at their houses during the break.“I polled the international students, and I spoke to students who did not have anywhere to go. They all received invitations to go home with domestic students who live nearby,” Knapp said. “Last year during Assembly, we really talked about the need for international students to have a place to go for Thanksgiving. I also put a message in the parent newsletter that went out last spring, talking about the importance of people who live within driving distance of the Academy to host international students.”Senior Anisha Nawalrai, who stayed over with her friend senior Amanda Li during the Thanksgiving break of her lower year, enjoyed the experience of being hosted.“I think her family was very welcoming, and they made sure if I needed anything, they could provide it for me. It’s a different experience because you get to hang out with your friend outside of school. I personally really enjoyed it,” Nawalrai said.