Thanksgiving is known all around the world as the big turkey holiday.

“In Germany if someone says Thanksgiving you think about a big Turkey and a lot of food and time with family and America of course,” Mia Subke (11) said. “We have something similar in Germany. We have Erntedankfest, which is a festival to give God thanks to the harvest. I have big expectations for this holiday. I expect to eat a lot of good food and have a good time, but at the same time I can’t wait for December and Christmas.”

The best part of living abroad is experiencing holidays that Europe doesn’t know about, and, as we know, America makes them extremely big. It is such an experience living in the United States as an exchange student and Thanksgiving could be a very good moment to be grateful for being here.

“I am grateful for having the opportunity to live another life on the other side of the world with my host family and friends,” Ainara Sansaloni (11) said.

Living in two countries at this young age allows you to discover another culture and take what you learned back to your home country. Sometimes it’s very difficult living with so many experiences far away from the people you love, so it would have been a nice thing to let them experience what you did during your exchange year.

“I would like to take this holiday in my home country because it brings family together and it gives the time between Halloween and Christmas a purpose,” Subke said. “Also, I want my family to learn about my life here in America and give them a sort of American experience.”

Our school has five exchange students this year and they all experienced Thanksgiving for the first time.

“I will definitely bring this holiday to my home country, I would like to have a day to celebrate what we’re thankful for,” Alva Biörssom said. “I am grateful for having experiences here in the US that I can’t have in Sweden.”

It can be very difficult living abroad, but it’s worth living the experience.