SLU-Madrid Celebrates America’s Favorite Holiday

Nothing beats a traditional turkey dinner for U.S. students away from home on Thanksgiving Day. Each year, SLU-Madrid’s dining services, Unity by Sodexo, caters the meal, roasting hundreds of pounds of turkey and serving pumpkin soup, peas and carrots, stuffing, and of course cranberry sauce (not easy to get in Spain!).

Bianca Shurn, a visiting student from the St. Louis campus, takes a moment to write what she is thankful for this year on one of the turkey's feathers. Many students noted that they are thankful for making new friends this year.

Visiting students Rebecca Pirtle (SLU-St. Louis), Bianca Shurn (SLU-St. Louis), Anne Hundertmark (St. Joseph’s) and Ashleigh Hopkins (Baylor) came together at lunchtime to enjoy the Thanksgiving meal on campus. For Rebecca, celebrating Thanksgiving far from her family proved bittersweet. She commented, “You see everyone back home celebrating, but I’m here celebrating with my new friends.” Ashleigh agreed, and added, “The food is also really good!” Bianca was actually able to celebrate with her brother, who came to visit her in Madrid.

Anne mentioned that she would be interested in knowing the perception that permanent students from other parts of the world have about Thanksgiving. “It’s about much more than having a big meal. It’s really about coming together with your family, or in our case, makeshift family and being thankful.”

Tapping into the spirit of giving thanks, Student Life recently hosted a food drive to benefit Caritas Internationalis, a confederation of social service organizations that works to build a better world for the poor and the oppressed. The holiday food, clothing and toy drives will begin in a few weeks.