By By: ALICIA FLORES
Staff Writer
aaflores@umail.iu.edu
The International Student Organization (ISO) will host its annual Thanksgiving Lunch from 12 to 2 p.m. Nov. 20 in the University Grill.
The event is open to anyone who wants to have a traditional Thanksgiving meal, but seating is limited. Students must register by sending an email to intlorg@iusb.edu.
The meal will come at the end of International Education Week, which began Nov. 16. Throughout the week, the ISO will have staff and students performing and presenting about their countries. They will discuss traditions in their country and the importance of education and how education functions in their countries.
“We as international students do not celebrate Thanksgiving in our respective countries, so this is a way to integrate a traditional meal and also for others who do not have the opportunity to have a Thanksgiving meal,” said Marie Kouame, president of ISO.
IU South Bend is a second home to over 200 international students. These students are far from home and the ISO gives them an opportunity to bond with others in the same situation and be part of a community.
All other events taking place during International Education Week are free and no registration is needed.
“Although we do not celebrate Thanksgiving we have similar occasions where we gather with friends and family to show we are thankful,” Kouame said. “We just don’t call it Thanksgiving, so we will have Power Point presentations that show what our countries do and show the similarities. It is also a chance to get people aware of the facts about our countries.”
