International students join the Christmas spirit

On 25th December a special Christmas Day buffet has been organised by the University’s International Student Support Office to ensure students staying in Exeter feel connected to the kinds of activities taking place around the country.

Yasmin Ismail, President of the International Students Council will not be returning home to Zambia due to work commitments, so she will be in Exeter to help organise the Christmas activities on campus. She said, 'Christmas time is generally a time when everyone is thinking of family and home and it can get pretty lonely, especially when you're so far away. I think the idea of a meal for International students is a great idea because they don't have to spend the day on their own but can enjoy an English Christmas with other Internationals, and hopefully for one day at least feel a little less homesick'.

Robin Kanarek the Jewish chaplain at the University having recently celebrated Chanukah on 3-4 December will be joining the international students for the Christmas buffet following the Saturday Shabat service in the Exeter synagogue. The Jewish chaplain used to teach English to overseas student and appreciates how hard it can be to be far away from home during the academic winter break. She said, ‘I came to England from the USA many years ago and still remember missing my American family very much until creating new traditions with my husband and newly found friends.’

The Christmas buffet will be at Hope Hall at 1pm and anyone interested in attending needs to contact the Sue Lawrie the International Student Support Officer to confirm their attendance (isa@exeter.ac.uk). The lunch is open to any students who are staying in Exeter. Tickets are £5. Professor Neil Armstrong the Deputy Vice-Chancellor responsible for internationalisation, regards the buffet as an important part of ensuring that international students are well catered for in Exeter during Christmas.  He said, ‘I think this is a fantastic initiative. I wish everyone attending a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!’

Queenie Wong, a BA Economics and Finance student will also be assisting on the day and remembers being in Exeter last Christmas. She said ‘I was quite excited because it was the first time I got to enjoy my Christmas outside my home city, Hong Kong. It was really a special experience having a Christmas holiday abroad.  The city is quieter as so many students go back home and although many of my friends left, there were some friends who stayed. We had a lovely Christmas dinner party at the University and we played, ate, drank and had loads of fun.’

She added, ‘As no shops are open on Christmas Day, it is a really nice idea to have a lunch together. All of those who are not going back home can stay together sharing what we feel it is like to be here at Christmas.’