Students who are not going home for Thanksgiving can celebrate
in the residence halls.
Georgiana Galateanu, Romanian studies professor and Sproul
Hall’s faculty-in-residence, is opening her apartment to
students who will be spending the holiday on campus.
“The students do all of the shopping, cooking and
cleaning,” said Galateanu. “This is an especially
unique experience because many students are away from home for the
first time, and this independence is very new to them.”
First-year marine biology student Barbara Lau plans on attending
the FIR celebration. Although she has little cooking experience,
she hopes to make this her first vegetarian Thanksgiving.
“I want to buy a tofu-turkey,” she said.
Lau and her friend Ruth Young, also a first-year student, are
both from San Francisco.
“I am staying for Thanksgiving because if I went home, it
would be too difficult to say “˜goodbye’ (to friends) so
quickly,” said Young. “I decided it would be best just
to wait for winter vacation.”
Tabin Mann, a second-year undeclared student, plans to spend
time with friends on Thursday instead of going back home.
“We will probably order a large, meat-lovers pizza and
rent some movies,” said Mann.
“I am gathering a bunch of menus for take-out orders that
will get me through the rest of the weekend,” she added.
Mann recalled some difficulty when she stayed for the holiday
last year. Without a car, it was sometimes hard to get food.
“I understand why the dining halls are closed on Thursday
and Friday, but even having one hall open on the weekend would be
helpful,” she said.
Mann expressed sympathy particularly for international students.
“It is harder for them to get home, and they don’t
necessarily have anywhere else to go,” she said.
“I at least had the option of going to my mom’s
friend’s house; (international students) have less of a
choice,” she added.
Such students are welcome to join Galateanu. Given the recent
success of the FIR Open House held in Galateanu’s apartment,
Galateanu is confident her Thanksgiving event will draw
students.
This year will be the second FIR Thanksgiving celebration in
Sproul. The idea began last year when a student approached
Galateanu asking to use her kitchen to prepare a Thanksgiving
meal.
With Galateanu’s approval, a group students gathered to
make and eat Thanksgiving dinner. They were accompanied by FIR and
Atmospheric Science Professor Jeff Lew and his wife Allison
Lew.
“It was quiet at first and then, as we filled ourselves
with good food and got more comfortable, things got louder with
people talking and laughing,” said Jeff Lew.
“You would be surprised that there are some students who
have never eaten turkey,” Allison Lew said. She described her
shock when people asked, “What is cranberry sauce? What do I
do with it?”
The dinner is a chance for Allison Lew to provide a safe and
comfortable place for students away from home.
As many students eagerly await the Thanksgiving holiday, the
Sproul FIRs and their guests have something special to celebrate:
the reciprocal relationships between students and faculty.
“(Especially on Thanksgiving), there is a need for
friendly company,” she said. “Everyone deserves to be
treated well. I hope to be able to provide a place where students
feel regarded.”