After the marathon of exams and studying that is November, University of Rochester students are rewarded for their efforts with a few days off for the greatly anticipated Thanksgiving Break. While the majority of students head home to their families for the five-day vacation, several hundred individuals spend their Thanksgivings on campus. As a freshman from Oregon I knew when I decided on Rochester that I would be among this number due to the impracticality of traveling several thousand miles for just a few short days at home. So, for the first time, I spent Thanksgiving away from my family, remaining right here in Rochester. While this prospect seemed slightly disheartening, I soon learned I had nothing to worry about. Thanks to the loving Rochester community I managed to have a lovely Thanksgiving, even if slightly unorthodox.
Thanksgiving festivities at Rochester begin much earlier than the fourth Thursday of the month. A wide range of meals featuring turkey are served throughout mid-November by various clubs and organizations. I was able to attend one such event the weekend before break, spending Sunday evening with all my theater friends at “Drama House Thanksgiving.” Hosted by the residents of the University’s theatre interest house, this Thanksgiving dinner brings together Rochester drama lovers of all kinds for a delicious home cooked meal. Events such as this are a chance for those heading home for break to give thanks with their college buddies as well as an opportunity for those staying on campus to partake in traditional Thanksgiving delicacies. Drama House Thanksgiving was a wonderful experience and amazingly only the beginning of my holiday celebration.
The following Wednesday when classes ended and the campus drained of students, I remained in my dorm, with a room to myself and an uncharacteristically quiet hall. But while my family was concerned about my being “all alone for the holiday,” I found I rather enjoyed the peace and quiet (something that can be difficult to find on our typically bustling campus). Furthermore, I was far from friendless, despite the depleted student body, and ended up spending Thanksgiving with both a family of Rochester natives and a group of other campus dwellers.
Like many of my fellow students hailing from afar, I was lucky enough to be invited into the home of one of my Rochesterian friends to celebrate the holiday. Her hospitable family graciously welcomed me to their Thanksgiving feast and reminded me what family life feels like. This sense of comfortable familiarity only increased with our afternoon activity, forming mini turkeys out of Oreos and candy with the help of a little brother who reminded me oh so much of my own. For me, Thanksgiving has always been about enjoying both food and family, and fortunately this year was no exception, even if the family I was enjoying wasn’t my own.
Back on campus that evening, I met up with a group of friends who, like me, had opted against travel. We spent the next few hours preparing our own Thanksgiving dinner, featuring dining hall turkey, frozen lasagna, prepackaged stuffing, and store-bought pumpkin pie. Regardless of the authenticity of our meal, it was surprisingly tasty and nicely complemented our night of movie watching and laughter. My wonderful Thanksgiving was completed with a late-night Skype session with the folks back home, a perfect way to end a very pleasant day.
My admittedly diverse Thanksgiving experience highlights the variety of options for students who are unable to make it home for break. The University itself makes a distinctive effort to accommodate these students, keeping certain dining halls open throughout the week and even organizing fun activities to entertain those staying on campus. While I can’t say I don’t envy my peers who spent their holiday at home, I certainly found advantages in staying at Rochester. The extra hours of sleep and down time were heavenly and staying on campus allowed me to enjoy the splendor of our first big snow. Overall, my break was a good one, showing me that even so far from home, I have a lot to be thankful for.
