Opinion: Thanksgiving Recess Leaves Out-of-State and International Students Stranded
During NYU’s short, three-day Thanksgiving break, many international and out-of-state students find themselves alone in their dorms, missing out on valuable time with missed friends and family.
(Illustration by Alisia Houghtaling via Washington Square News)
New York City, NY — by Katherine Welander
This story was originally published on New York University’s Washington Square News.
The beginning of November signals two things: the end of Halloween season and the beginning of the countdown to Thanksgiving Recess.
For in-state students and those from nearby states, Thanksgiving — even for students who don’t celebrate the holiday — offers a much-needed break from schoolwork and a chance to visit family and friends. But many find that the three-day break instead means making a choice between long, expensive flights with short turn-around home and spending Thanksgiving alone in their dorms.
Out-of-state and international students often have to dedicate an entire day to traveling, meaning that the short three days, plus the weekend, off from class is not enough time to travel home. NYU, as an institution that proudly claims to have the largest international student body in the country, should give students time off for the entire week of Thanksgiving to better accommodate out-of-state and international students’ ability to travel.
As an out-of-state student myself, traveling between New York City and California can be an all-day ordeal — especially when you consider the time needed to pack, travel to and from the airport and get through security. Even if I’m traveling home for longer breaks, like winter or spring break, the commute still feels more time-consuming than it’s worth.
When it comes to Thanksgiving Recess, time spent traveling usually eats into two of the three days that students have off, often requiring some logistical gymnastics to make the most of limited time at home. The six-hour early-morning flight I take to get home will mean that I’m traveling most of Wednesday, and my returning red-eye flight on Sunday night will get me back to the city with just enough time to squeeze in a quick nap before heading off to class.
Read the rest of the story at Washington Square News.