Local Families to Share Thanksgiving Tradition with International Students

The family of Shelly Taskin, program coordinator at the UC San Diego International Center, celebrating Thanksgiving. Taskin and her family are looking forward to hosting two international students for this year’s Thanksgiving celebration.

This year, international students at UC San Diego will get a home for the Thanksgiving holiday. Students from across the globe will be offered the opportunity to celebrate Thanksgiving with an American host family in San Diego through a new program hosted by the university’s International Center.

Through the program, UC San Diego international students will be hosted by volunteering families who will share how their family celebrates the annual holiday. So far, 68 students will be hosted by at least 28 families in the San Diego community.

“Our international students are excited to spend Thanksgiving with local San Diego families and learn more about this traditional American holiday,” said Shelly Taskin, program coordinator at the International Center. “This program is a wonderful opportunity for both international students and host family members to learn more about each others’ cultures and foster new friendships.”

In Fall 2011, UC San Diego oriented nearly 1,200 new international students—the largest incoming international student group ever. “These students help broaden the diversity of the campus, but they also help bring funds to the university in tough economic times,” said Lynn Anderson, dean of International Education at UC San Diego.

The International Students and Programs Office (ISPO) is one of four offices in the International Center. ISPO serves more than 3,200 international students and their dependents. It is dedicated to providing comprehensive advising services, programs, informational resources, and volunteer opportunities that support international students and their families as well as serving UC San Diego’s academic departments and research units.

If you are interested in hosting a UC San Diego international student for the Thanksgiving holiday, please e-mail the International Center at: iprograms@ucsd.edu