By: Tayhana Taylor, Contributing Writer
Thanksgiving is a joyous occasion for many families, but celebrating together this year may be risky because of COVID-19.
Thanksgiving is anxiously anticipated by a number of college students and faculty because, for many families, it is the first holiday that they come together before Christmas. International students get to go home for the break and share their experiences of studying abroad with their relatives.
With the hesitation to travel because of health concerns, the joy surrounding Thanksgiving will possibly be a tad dim this year for some international students attending Saint Leo University.
“I normally celebrate Thanksgiving with my family in The Bahamas even though The Bahamas doesn’t celebrate Thanksgiving […] the pandemic has changed my plans because I can no longer go back home to celebrate so that kind of sucks [… ] I am spending it this year with some family friends who will take care of me and I’ll see some of my best friends,” said Kara Pinder, a freshman majoring in social work.
Pinder’s situation is similar to that of other international students at Saint Leo. She pointed out that flying back home may not be worth it because she will be required to quarantine for 14 days.
International students who choose to travel home may have to take a COVID-19 test and quarantine for 14 days.
Source: Emirates Airways
“I am from Jamaica, so it is not a tradition for my family to celebrate Thanksgiving, but since I am here in the United States, I had plans to celebrate with my family in Florida […] other relatives had made plans to fly to the U.S. to celebrate together, but that is not possible at the moment because of COVID, ” said Jameelah Spence, a freshman studying business management.
Spence continued, saying that she will have to resort to spending the holiday on campus or visit a relative nearby.
Unfortunately, a season that should be filled with delight has been the opposite for a lot of international students. On the other hand, some domestic students indicated that their Thanksgiving plans are still in place, but with COVID-19 restrictions playing a role.
“Well, I am getting on a plane and heading back to Tennessee for Thanksgiving, but sadly I’ll only be seeing my direct family, like my parents and my younger siblings, because my parents had to shorten the Thanksgiving dinner guest list because of COVID-19 and the need to social distance […] my older sister is pregnant so she won’t be flying home as she is more vulnerable to the virus […]. I am happy I get to see family, but the holiday won’t be the same without everyone,” said Ashley Tucker, a freshman studying criminalistics with a chemistry minor.
(Left to right) Ashley Tucker, Lirit Burton, Christopher Scribner, Morgan Scribner, and Elianna Tucker. The Tuckers’ Thanksgiving holiday is complete when all family members are present to enjoy some pecan pie and ham.
Photo source: Ashley Tucker
Many other families may be following the same precautions as Tucker. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] urges families to limit their number of guests, wear masks during gatherings, and avoid travel to destinations that have a high number of COVID-19 cases.
One student expressed her concern about if she would still be invited to her friends’ Thanksgiving dinner because of the pandemic.
“My family does not have a traditional Thanksgiving where we have a dinner and sit down and eat […] my friends usually invite me over, but I am not too sure if those friends are doing anything this Thanksgiving,” said Yvenie Desrosiers, a freshman, majoring in psychology.
Students are not the only ones experiencing the holiday differently.
The CDC has indicated that traveling via airplane outside of your area can lead to the spread of COVID-19.
Source: Sally Painter
“I usually cook for Thanksgiving every year […]. [I]n the past, I have had Saint Leo students actually come home with me for Thanksgiving, but this year everything is kind of up in the air. Still, I’ll probably do the same thing this year, but it’s possible that some of my guests might be hesitant to come to my house for dinner this year because everyone is concerned about the virus,” said Meg Riddle, a Dining Hall staff member.
Nonetheless, members of the Saint Leo community remain grateful, regardless of the pandemic.
“I’m thankful for the break from school, it gives me time to just relax and I am grateful to be healthy,” said Ashleigh Ellis, a freshman majoring in biomedical health science.
