International student, Stuti Khadka, shares her first Thanksgiving experience

Stuti Khadka, Managing Editor - Washburn Review • November 30, 2023

My friend, Gertrude, a freshman law major, and I enjoy our time during Thanksgiving. We talked with friends over delicious food. (Stuti Khadka)

I celebrated my first Thanksgiving in the U.S. on Tuesday, Nov. 21. Although it is on Nov. 23, we planned to celebrate Thanksgiving a bit early for those who might be visiting their family during that time.

This holiday made me feel grateful and appreciative for things that I have in life. Although spending time away from home made me feel left out, being around people who wish nothing but happiness for me made me feel a lot better. I contributed by making my traditional food, Aalu Titaura, which is a side dish we have as something to munch on.

Chasity Craft, one of my friends from the Student Center, prepared so many dishes for us. I especially enjoyed the turkey, which was the highlight of the whole dinner. She also invited some of the former residents and we had a lovely time with them.

We started arranging tables around 5 p.m. We set up drinks and food on the tables and sat down while waiting for everyone to arrive. After 20 minutes , we began eating. Some of the residents brought friends and we started introducing ourselves. After a while, we were comfortable enough to share some of our awkward holiday moments and had a good laugh at it. I had a lot of laughs with my friend Gertude Nartey, freshman law major.Since she is also away from her home, we spent most of our time reminiscing about our home country.

The resident over the Student Center prepares food during Thanksgiving. The dinner started at 5 p.m. (Stuti Khadka)

“I do miss home, but this gave me a new experience of spending time with people you love,” Nartey said.

I think coming to Topeka was one of my best decisions. The people here are welcoming and I do not feel like an outsider. There are no city noises and everything sounds like it is moving with nature. I find myself in peace whenever I am outside taking a walk with my friends.Faith Jepchirchir, a sophomore nursing major and one of my friends, always helps me whenever I get stuck in a difficult situation.

“Thanksgiving should be a time when we should realize how far we have come,” Jepchirchir said. “We often forget what we must be grateful for and Thanksgiving provides a place for it.”

We finished our food and I left early since I had an assignment due that day. My friends saved the leftovers for people who were not able to make it in the fridge.

Edited by Sydney Peterson and Jeremy Ford

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About the Contributor

Stuti Khadka, Managing Editor - Washburn Review

Hey, I am Stuti! I am a sophomore psychology and nursing major. I am a copy editor and content creator at Student Media where I write stories on campus events and meet people with their unique life experiences. After graduation, I plan on working in hospitals and contributing myself to the medical community and perhaps someday I hope on publishing my own book filled with small stories.