By Lauren Fitch, Kokomo Tribune
Though they will not be home for the holidays this year, Kokomo High School international students are finding elements of their traditions in the American version of the Christmas season.
AWAY FROM HOME: Kokomo High School international students Christina Pan, Leo Lian, and Piritta Rasanen have enjoyed experiencing American holidays. The youths said they see elements of their own traditions in American celebrations. KT photo | Tim Bath
Representing six different countries, seven students gathered before their final exams last week to share their thoughts on the American winter holidays. Most of the students have celebrated Christmas before, and many share similar traditions of decorating a tree, exchanging gifts and paying homage to Santa Claus.
But Christmas in America is more extravagant, they said.
“It’s a big deal here,” said Christina Pan, a freshman from Germany. “They start at Thanksgiving. In Germany, it’s not that big.”
Pan had never heard Christmas songs before her time in Kokomo, and she admitted she doesn’t care for them. Pan’s family has a unique take on Christmas celebrations since her parents are from China; they usually spend the day with friends.
Snow has added to the exchange students’ excitement this season, as they told stories of sledding and snowball fights. Linh Pham, from Vietnam, saw snow for the first time in Kokomo.
“It’s pretty,” she said. “I watched it first. It snowed at night, so I waited till morning to go out and touch it and feel it. I took a picture of it and sent it to my mom.”
The Vietnamese equivalent to Santa Claus is called Ong Gia No-en, Pham said, and he’s a little thinner than the American Santa.
Wenbo Wei, a senior from north China, typically does not observe Christmas. Instead, his family celebrates New Year’s — also known as Spring Festival — by exchanging gift cards or cash and making lots of Chinese dumplings. Leo Lian, a student from southern China, pointed out that dumplings are not as significant where he’s from. Spring Festival is their longest break from school, he added.
Read the full article by Lauren Fitch from Kokomo Tribune.
