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Wilson College
Fooling April Review
Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
Where’s My Dink? Vol. XXXVII, No. 4
THE
WILSON BILLBOARD An American Tradition: Wilson’s International Students get a taste of Thanksgiving
Elisa Harding-Hunt demonstrates the art of carving a Thanksgiving turkey.
Photo by Youkyung Jin
By Youkyung Jin As usual at dinner, the Jensen dining hall is filled with people. But today is a little bit different, because it was Thanksgiving dinner. Among these people, there were people who were about to enjoy their first American Thanksgiving. International students from Trinidad Tobago, South Korean, Ukraine gathered in table 39 and celebrated Thanksgiving.
When Elisa Harding Hunt, assistance dean of international students, brought Turkey for the table, every body welcomed the Thanksgiving turkey. They shared four typical American thanks giving foods; turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pies, and cranberries. Before dinner, International students take turns to say what they thankful for. “I’m thankful to have great
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opportunity to study in Wilson and for my life in here”, Aliyah Johnson 09’ a student from Trinidad Tobago said. After that they talked about Thanksgiving celebration in each country. “In my country, we don’t really celebrate Thanksgiving Day” Iryna Machkur 09’, guest students from Ukraine said. Min Ah Park 09’, a guest student from South Korea said that it is similar to have a big meal with family members and share rice cake instead of turkey. The way of celebration may be different but the fact that Thanksgiving is a thankful day is everywhere. It was many international students’ 1st American Thanksgiving dinner.
The Holiday Hustle By Des Arnold Christmas, December 25. Christmas is the Christian representation of the day that Jesus Christ was born. It is the season of giving and loving one another. The Christmas season traditionally starts on “Black Friday”, the day after Thanksgiving. This is when Santa Claus comes to the malls and so forth. Normally, Christmas decorations are put in stores after Halloween. This year I noticed something different. This year, Christmas decorations arrived at Wal-Mart before Halloween decor. The store clerks were filling aisles with Christmas, Thanksgiving and Halloween decorations at the same time. Where did autumn go? Listening to the radio one day, I heard that the Greencastle Christmas Parade will be held on Saturday, November 19th. During this parade Santa Claus will be arriving in town. Santa Claus will also be arriving at the Hanover Mall on Friday November 18th. However, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will still be held on Thanksgiving. During this parade, Santa comes to town. This is the tradition. In addition to the broken traditions listed above, Christmas advertisements have started to air on the television. In the course of a one hour show, I saw Christmas commercials for Sears, Target and Kay Jewelers. Are retailers really so concerned with the almighty dollar, that they must start advertising for Christmas weeks in advance? It seems like every year the Christmas season starts sooner and sooner. I overheard a conversation in which a man was telling a friend that his neighbors already put up their Christmas tree. What’s
sad about this, is that I heard this conversation two weeks before Halloween. Why is it that the season keeps starting sooner? Is it the fault of the retailers, or are we just so anxious for Christmas to come that we start decorating our homes three months in advance? Has Christmas turned into a holiday about trees, decorations, and getting your wife the perfect “Leo diamond” pendant and getting your kids the most expensive toys available only at Toys R Us? All of the signs that have been shoved in our faces this year have me confused. What is Christmas really about? Is it about diamonds, toys and decoration, or is it about family, love and giving? Every year at Christmas time, my mother asks me what I am going to give. One year I bought tea, coffee, sugar and flour and gave it to a local homeless shelter. Another year I had 11 ½ inches of my hair cut off and donated it to Locks for Love, an organization that makes wigs out of real hair for cancer patients. Christmas in my house has always been about the look of the receivers face when they open THAT present. It is about seeing family and connecting with old friends. It is about sitting around a table with family and friends and eating a marvelous meal. I guess that the true meaning of Christmas varies from person to person. I guess that as the years pass, the meaning of Christmas changes. I remember when it was all about the presents; I also remember when that changed. Enjoy the holiday season this year. Enjoy giving and receiving. Enjoy decorating your houses and trees. And, before long, the Christmas season will be starting in August.