Christmas is a time that unites families. When I was child, I took for granted that my home would be decorated with snowmen, Santa Claus figures, angels and the most important accessory – the good-smelling Christmas tree shining in green, red and gold that lit every living room paradisiacally. The smell of warm gingerbread, fresh cookies, apple cider and especially cinnamon is the strongest when being at home with our mum taking care of bringing us into Christmas mood. Experiencing Christmas means being with your mum, dad, brother and/or sister and maybe also grandparents in order to celebrate the most traditional holiday in western Christian society. 

International students who celebrate this special annual tradition, and who are unable to go home during the break face a challenge, and have to figure out how to find a comparable substitute in order to have approximately the same Christmas feeling they had at home. 

How important is Christmas to students? Do we still care about this tradition or has it become old-fashioned? I am 22 and I have not been home for almost a year. Staying in Wichita during the summer, where I endured the heat by taking classes and working, I kept busy and did not think too much about home. 

But I have to admit that I would never be able to enjoy Christmas Eve either alone or just with a friend. That might sound conservative but I like to keep the tradition, and I am very happy to be able to go home to Germany during the break to spend time with my family. 

However, going home is a luxury and can even be considered a privilege. Not every international student has this opportunity, mainly due to financial reasons. A student athlete at WSU, who wants to remain anonymous, and who is originally from Trinidad and Tobago, is not able to go home for Christmas since her parents cannot afford to buy an airplane ticket this time. It is the second Christmas in a row that she’s spent in Wichita. 

Last year, two of her friends also stayed, and because they are members of a church, a family invited them to spend Christmas Eve with them. She is thankful that the family was so gracious, but she also said that it does not feel the same as home. It feels like every other ordinary day and not anything special. The fact that her friends also stayed made it more endurable since pain can be shared. 

This year she faces a more difficult holiday because most of her close friends are gone. She is hoping for an invitation from the family again, but if it does not come she will try to make the best out of the day. She explains that sometimes one has to make sacrifices and it is not in her power to make a choice about going home or not. 

I wish everyone has the possibility to celebrate Christmas with his or her family, whether it is with friends who count as family substitutes, on Skype or hopefully together at home.