The holiday season is an enjoyable time of year for most, but some individuals do not get to spend it with their family. Whether it’s by choice or not, it is still difficult to be away from loved ones during the holidays.

The foreign exchange student program at Washburn Rural allows students from all over the world to come to Topeka and learn more about the American culture.

While the students can choose to do this, some have a difficult time being away from their family for such a long amount of time.

French foreign exchange student Justine Morel thinks her feelings during this season will be mixed.

“I think it’s going to be both [a good experience and a difficult time],” Morel said. “It’s going to be good because I’m going to see the American Christmas in a different way.”

Leticia Bork, from Germany, has similar feelings.

“I think it’s pretty cool that I can celebrate [holidays] somewhere else because at home we always do the same thing, so it’s different here, but I think I’m going to miss my family,” Bork said.

While these two students expect to miss their home a little extra during this time, Iñaki Uriagereka from Spain is enjoying his stay so far and is especially excited for the upcoming breaks.

“I’m doing a lot of new stuff and learning every single day,” Uriagereka said. “I think it’s a great experience for me to be here in America with Christmas and Thanksgiving because it is different from [Spain].”

Family and cultural traditions for Christmas are a common thing, and for some, not being able to do these with family will be the hardest part. For Natasja Trustrup from Denmark, this is the case.

“I think it’s going to be a good experience, but I’m going to miss my family because we’re always together on Christmas, so it’s going to be tough not having them here,” Trustrup said.

In Denmark, she said she and her family members not only have traditions, but they are common all over Denmark.

“We dance around the Christmas tree and sing songs. We have a dinner on the 24th and we do everything on the 24th, like open presents, and we normally eat pork and have rice pudding for dessert with cherry sauce,” Trustrup said.

In Spain, Julia Valdeolmillos has similar traditions as some Americans do.

“We have over friends and family and have big meals and just sit together and eat. For New Year’s we dress up fancy and eat grapes,” Valdeolmillos said.

While some households don’t necessarily have traditions, going on vacations to new places can be a preferred way to get away from the cold weather and do something different.

Giacomo Marangoni from Italy had big plans for Thanksgiving break.

He said he went on a cruise for seven days with his host family.

While this cruise is a new experience for Marangoni, this is not what he said he was most excited about since he had never celebrated Thanksgiving before this year.

He said he really enjoyed the “Thanksgiving food.”

Two foreign exchange students came from China this year, and for them, they get to experience a few special days that they don’t have at home. For their holidays, they often spend the day celebrating a little differently.

“In China, we gather together to have dinner together and have lunch and talk to each other about the daily life,” foreign exchange student Yin Yin Chen said. “We have lots of costumes for different holidays.”

But much like America, the new year is celebrated widely in China.

“We have Chinese New Year on January 28th [this year]. We eat dinner with the whole family [and] play games,” foreign exchange student Susan Wang said.

In Italy, Vittorio Fei celebrates Christmas, but he is not expecting it to be the same as what he is used to.

“[I’m especially excited for] Christmas because I think it would be different from what I do in my home,” Fei said.

One of the many foreign exchange students who will have different feelings while being away for so long is Austrian foreign exchange student Kat Kandler.

“I’m very excited because we have Christmas, but it’s very different,” Kandler said. “Christmas for us is very much a family thing, so it’s going to be a mixture between being homesick and excited.”

The foreign exchange student program is about making new opportunities for high school students and acting as a learning experience by giving them the chance to experience different cultures and traditions.

Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s are big family holidays for most, which will make it difficult being across the country from loved ones, but it also allows them to celebrate new holidays and further their knowledge of  American culture. After all, it is said to be the most wonderful time of the year.