International Students and Navigating Holidays Away from Home
As we explored in Part 1, international students in the U.S. often face unique mental health challenges as they adapt to new cultural norms, language barriers, academic demands, and often a profound sense of homesickness. For those already at risk for eating disorders or struggling with issues like anxiety and depression, these challenges can take a toll on well-being.
In Part 2, we’ll examine the complexities of spending holidays abroad. For international students, holidays can amplify feelings of loneliness and isolation. Celebrating American-specific holidays like Thanksgiving may deepen their sense of cultural “otherness” as they struggle to find a makeshift community or face a holiday landscape that doesn’t align with their cultural practices.
For students far from home, this lack of connection can be especially pronounced, exacerbating existing mental health concerns and impacting recovery from issues like eating disorders.
The Emotional Impact of Holidays Abroad
Many international students find it nearly impossible to go home for holidays. Unlike domestic students who might travel home for Thanksgiving, international students often face prohibitive costs and logistical challenges.
Without the option to reconnect with family during culturally significant times, the emotional burden can be heavy. Holidays are deeply meaningful, and being unable to be with family on these special days can make students feel further away from their roots and their support systems.
Isolation and “Otherness”
Holidays can also amplify feelings of “otherness” for international students. In the U.S., Thanksgiving is a massive cultural moment, with many people gathering in large family celebrations, workplaces closing, and much of the country focusing on a single holiday tradition.
For international students, this can create a feeling of exclusion. If they aren’t participating in a traditional Thanksgiving meal or don’t have people to gather with, the day may feel isolating, as they are surrounded by a celebration that doesn’t necessarily align with their own culture.
The isolation that comes from feeling out of place during holiday celebrations can heighten feelings of homesickness and worsen struggles with mental health. This “holiday isolation” effect is particularly challenging for students already grappling with eating disorders, depression, or anxiety.
Thanksgiving: The “Locked Down” Holiday
Thanksgiving is unique in the American holiday calendar. While it’s a major cultural event with an emphasis on food and family, it’s also a long weekend, providing only two days off, which isn’t enough time to travel internationally.
For those who would otherwise travel home for a major holiday, the short break offers little comfort and often adds to a sense of being “stuck” or unable to reconnect with loved ones. Combine this with the fact that the U.S. tends to shut down, with restaurants and stores closed for the day, and this feeling of being stuck can be a real challenge.
Challenges of Thanksgiving for International Students
Thanksgiving’s emphasis on food and family gatherings can be especially difficult for international students. For those struggling with eating disorders, a holiday focused on traditional meals can create anxiety or shame.
For students who lack a place to celebrate or who feel uncomfortable in unfamiliar social settings, Thanksgiving may deepen feelings of exclusion. These dynamics can increase the risk of isolation, and they are often challenging to address alone.
The Effects of Missing Cultural Holidays from Home
In addition to navigating American holidays, international students may struggle with the absence of their own cultural holidays, like Lunar New Year, Diwali, Eid, or national independence days. When these culturally significant days come and go with little or no celebration, students may feel a stronger disconnection from their cultural heritage. For students feeling isolated from their culture, the inability to honor important traditions can increase feelings of loneliness and cultural loss.
Impact on Mental Health and Eating Disorders
These missed holidays can have a compounding effect on mental health. For those dealing with eating disorders, holidays and cultural events can bring back memories of traditional family gatherings, triggering stress around food, weight, or body image. Students who can’t celebrate holidays important to them may feel emotionally disconnected, and they might struggle to maintain their mental health goals without the grounding presence of their culture.
Coping Strategies and Finding Community
For international students, finding a community during the holiday season is essential. Many universities and local organizations offer events for international students to gather and celebrate. Students can reach out to campus cultural centers, international student organizations, or local cultural groups to find community and, when possible, participate in alternative holiday gatherings that celebrate diverse cultures and traditions.
By connecting with others in similar situations, students may feel less alone, building a support system that understands the specific challenges they face.
Alternative Ways to Cope with Isolation
There are many ways to create a sense of belonging during the holidays, even when home feels far away. For students staying on campus during Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving events or university-hosted Thanksgiving meals can be a great way to participate in American traditions in a more welcoming, inclusive setting. Many universities also offer mental health and wellness events for students who may feel isolated.
International students might also benefit from
connecting with family and friends back home through virtual calls
joining online communities
Volunteer work at school or in the community
finding support groups that focus on issues like eating disorders or cultural adjustment
engaging in hobbies
practicing mindfulness
exploring personal cultural traditions can provide emotional stability.
The holiday season poses unique challenges for international students, who may feel a heightened sense of isolation and “otherness” while far from home. For those struggling with mental health concerns, such as
eating disorders
depression
anxiety
these feelings can be especially difficult to manage. However, by reaching out to communities, connecting with cultural organizations, and building networks of support, international students can find ways to celebrate, cope, and maintain their well-being.
International students navigating mental health challenges during the holidays deserve compassion, understanding, and support. With the right resources and culturally sensitive care, they can find a sense of belonging and even thrive, despite being far from home.