“I just got an invitation from one of my anthropology professors for a Christmas Eve dinner at his house. Would you like to go with me?” I asked my Chinese roommate while she was struggling with some high-level econometric problems. She immediately lifted her head up, “Nice! I’d love to!”

Why did my host ask us to bring him gifts? Read on to find out!

“Wait a second. This is funny,” said I, as she was about to go back to numbers and equations, “The professor asked me to bring a dish and a gift to the dinner. I can understand about bringing a dish. But how could someone invite you to his house while asking you explicitly to bring a gift?”

I found out eventually what the gift was for, but first I spent a lot of time getting excited about this Christmas Eve dinner, even when I was studying for my finals. I had traveled home to China during last winter break, so this year’s Christmas would be another of my “first times” in the U.S. Besides, as an anthropology major interested in America, being able to celebrate Christmas in the U.S. with Americans fascinated me.

My roommate and I got up very early on December 24th, Christmas Eve, to start worrying about the food we would bring to the dinner. We had no idea how to cook American food, and almost everything in our fridge was from an Asian market in town. “You know what? We can just make Chinese food. It would not look that weird. He is an anthropology professor, so he would probably be very interested in what we cook.” I said to my roommate.

My professor knocked on our door to pick us up at 5:50 pm. We said “Merry Christmas” to each other as my roommate and I came to his car, carrying a high-pressured cooker with Chinese pork rib soup inside. Of course we had our wrapped gifts in tow as well. “I am curious how Americans will react to a Chinese soup at a Christmas Eve dinner, and how they are going to eat the ribs in the soup,” my roommate whispered to me in the car.

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My family on Christmas

My American Thanksgiving was a truly wonderful experience and gave me a glimpse into what the holiday means for Americans and those living in America. I was privileged to have two Thanksgiving feasts with all the traditional foods, turkey, apple pie, green bean casserole, and the works! The first was at my church the week of Thanksgiving where the whole church sat down for a meal cooked by the ladies’ group. The second was a more intimate affair with my pastor and his family in their home.

What I loved about the Thanksgiving holiday:

• Turkey and apple pie are wonderful foods; either I ate food made by really good cooks or I just love food, but I am thinking it’s the cooks. The overindulgence of Thanksgiving is quite enjoyable and the truth is you can’t help but be overstuffed after digging into a lavish Thanksgiving feast!

• The significance of sharing with those without, including people far from homes or their families, is the best part of the holiday. Communities, churches and individuals don’t just make a huge meal and eat on their own, in a way they seek out those with whom they may share with so that the true meaning of the holiday is celebrated. I remember seeing multiple signs at churches for free thanksgiving dinners to all.

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One year ago: December 2011. A girl’s bags are packed and she is literally “ready to go,” just like John Denver was. She is leaving her home, her family to go miles away, halfway across the world, to the land of dreams, the U.S.A. Yes, she is scared. Yes, she is nervous. However, there is this small part of her which is jumping with excitement. And the reason for its excitement is not a normal one: after 19 years of Christmas in Pakistan, she is excited to finally witness the holiday in her dream land. Today, I, that girl, have come full circle, back to Washington, D.C. for that same holiday.

When my plane landed at the Washington Dulles airport on December 27 last year, I won’t lie, I felt a bit lost. It was a new country, with new people and it was just so cold. But as I rode away from the airport, every house that was decorated with Christmas lights and reindeers and Santas would just make me so happy.

Decorations on a house in Queens, NY (Photo: Reuters)

A house in Alabama all decorated for Christmas (Photo: AP)

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As an exchange student from China, I just finished my first (and last) winter break in North Dakota. I finished my finals in late December and checked out of my dorm room to spend the vacation in the city of Grand Forks. Maia Randclev, my best American friend, invited me to spend Christmas with her family, and they tried their best to present to me the various aspects of Americans’ real life by having a traditional Christmas with me.

Candles on Christmas Eve

From this experience, I have come to know that Christmas is not merely about food and gifts. In fact, Christmas is more about sharing with others and appreciating what people already have in their lives. At least, this is how I felt after spending the holiday with the Randclevs.

December 24th—Christmas Eve

We went to church on Christmas Eve to meet other people in the local community and to have a religious celebration of Jesus’ birthday. The Randclevs were serving as volunteers, so Maia, her sister and their parents wore white robes and worked in front of the church.

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Many of you, including our own blogger Nick, have suggested using American songs as a way to practice English.  Well, the holiday season is filled with classic Christmas carols that are great for just that purpose.

Some Christmas carols have been around so long that they use beautiful archaic language like “hither and thither,” which most English speakers can still recognize as meaning “here and there.” But I bet even native English speakers don’t know the meaning of some of these words that pop up in their favorite Christmas songs.

Lowing
Heard in: Away in a Manger

“The cattle are lowing, the poor baby wakes”

Lowing (verb) = Mooing

Verily, Riven
Heard in: Ding Dong Merrily on High

“Ding dong, verily the sky is riv’n with angel singing”

Verily (adverb) = Truly

Riven (adjective) = Split Read the rest of this entry »

It’s not as scientific a measure as most viewed or most commented, but here my top 5 favorite posts our bloggers wrote in 2010.  Although, let’s be clear, all the bloggers are amazing, and picking out just 5 feels really unfair.  As a bonus, I’m also including my top 5 favorite “Question of the Week”-style posts.

My top 5 favorite blogger posts:

# 5) On Colours of American Armour, or Why I Refuse to AmericaniSe my Spelling, by Nareg

I shall definitely “graduate” in May, and not “pass out”, as I would have in India. Although, the exhausting way we work here at St. John’s College, it may end up being a little of both.

# 4) Rethinking Democracy, by Sebastian

But something I found interesting is the fact that voting day here in Kansas is just like any other week day, and if someone doesn’t vote, there is no penalty for that.

# 3) A Personal Take on “Americanization,” by Nick

On my plate was a sizable cheese burger, sitting on top of a bunch of curly fries, accompanied by plenty of ketchup and pickle slices to round up the over-packed plate.

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Ho ho ho, Merry Christmas! Even if you don’t celebrate Christmas, it’s a festive time of year here in the U.S., what with all the sparkling lights and pretty trees.

Many of you have said that one of the best ways to practice your English is to watch American movies.  So as a Christmas present, here are 5 classic movies you can watch to practice your English and get into the holiday spirit.

A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

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Thoughts from one week of holiday celebrations:

Wednesday, December 01
The most difficult part of my college experience is being an international student.

My friends are anxiously marking days off their calendars in joyful anticipation of celebrating the end of year with their families.  Everywhere I turn, decorations have been hung up high in preparation for the festive season – like these ones, in Yale’s Silliman Dining Hall.

Lately, even the smile of a stranger on the street just reminds me that I will be celebrating my first Christmas away from home.

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We’ve mentioned that some American families will invite international students over to share in their Thanksgiving celebration. Well, the Shakespeare family in Bloomington, Indiana (who, full disclosure, are the parents of my good friend and colleague Rebecca) has a lovely tradition of inviting Indiana University international students over to share in their Christmas holiday as well.

Chun Guo, who studies information science at IU, very kindly volunteered to tell us about it. Marie Shakespeare sent over the pictures.

Chun Guo:

… I love the variety of courses that are offered here in my school, most of which are not currently taught in any of same kind of institution in China. It is also a great opportunity to experience a different culture. I quite enjoy the materials that are taught in class and the way the professors teach. I also had a lot of chances to explore American culture, for example, the Halloween celebration, Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas decoration. It has been a wonderful experience.

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Lawrence, Kansas, a town of about 90,000 people, about a third of whom are students at The University of Kansas (KU), has become now my second home. After four months living here I have become used to everything around, from the crazy Kansan weather that changes from 60 to almost 20 degrees in the same day, to the people, fellow students and the city itself. After overcoming the cultural shock, looking with a positive view at the differences, and enjoying the whole new atmosphere, I ended up getting so used to this town that I thought it couldn’t surprise me anymore. But I was wrong.

On November 26, the day after Thanksgiving, the city turned its lights on to embrace the Christmas spirit – a month in advance!

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