MBA student Lok Liu, top, helps international students Bhagya Sri Pepakayala and Abhishek Mothukuru register for the Host for the Holidays program.
An event intended to recruit more homes to host international students for Thanksgiving dinner attracted more attention from potential guests, says organizer Beth Oakley, director of the International Student Centre.
“We had a good turnout, but to be honest, we had more students sign up than families wanting to act as hosts,” she said Wednesday as she packed up an information display in the student centre.
The Host for the Holidays program matches students new to Canada with faculty and staff members willing to share a traditional Thanksgiving meal.
Bhagya Sri Pepakayala, an M.Eng student from India, was eager to register for a match.
“I want to meet new people and explore their culture,” she said as she signed up at the centre’s booth. “And we can share our cultures with them as well.”