University of Illinois Springfield employees Bud and Cathy Price had a not-quite-traditional Thanksgiving Wednesday, to be followed by another, more recognizable version today.
The Prices, both in their 60s, figure their traveling days are over, so they occasionally have the world over to their house for dinner. Wednesday was one of those times.
Six UIS graduate students from India came to the Prices’ home Wednesday as part of a program that links international students with American host families to experience traditional American holidays and customs. About 30 students and 10 host families — UIS employees, students and their families, and community members — are taking part this Thanksgiving in the program coordinated by UIS International Student Services.
“We saw Thanksgiving only in movies and TV series,” said Patil Ameya, one of the students. “We want to get to know about it.”
Srujana Mulpuri said she had been in the United States for a month previously, but not at Thanksgiving. She wants to experience the tradition of a holiday for which she said there is no equivalent in India.
“And I’m just expecting to meet everyone,” she said.
The story was reported by The State Journal-Register on November 28, 2013.
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