Thanksgiving Dinner with Community Hosts!

Each November, FIUTS connects students with hosts from around the Seattle area who open their homes to share Thanksgiving with UW international students. For many students, the opportunity to eat turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie with an American family or group of friends is a new and exciting cultural experience. And for hosts, inviting international students to join them for Thanksgiving brings unique perspectives to this fall tradition.

We asked hosts to send us photos of the dinner they shared with friends, families, and international guests. We're thrilled to see so many smiling faces as people from around the world gathered to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal.

Here's a collection of photos from a few of the dinners that took place last Thursday:

"We had a rollicking crowd of neighbors, family, and our FIUTS students." Ann, hosting our students Jingyi and Yuzhu.

"We had such super visits with Rowina and Osman. It was a completely enriching part of our celebration." Sherry, hosting FIUTS students Rowina and Osman.

"No one was injured with the rolling pin."- Nancy, who invited homestay students Nisha and Charlotte over for dinner.

"My mother, husband and myself all really enjoyed hosting our student matches." - Noreen, who hosted Changning and Chiaki.

"We had a blast at our international Thanksgiving!" - Donna, who hosted Nicole, Nicole, Jose, and Maria.

Our community member Cathy, hosting students Ashwaq, Omar, Saleh, and Wafe.

Our host Karen and Dan (as well as their seven-year-old Kendra and four-year-old Darian) hosted 10 FIUTS students for Thanksgiving Dinner!

We're so thankful for the community members who welcome students to their tables, and to students for participating in a unique cultural exchange experience! Stay tuned for a student blog about her Thanksgiving experience with a local family to be posted next week!

To learn more about FIUTS hosting and friendship programs, visit www.fiuts.org/homestay.