The sidewalks are empty, the Rhatigan Student Center is abandoned and finals are a distant memory. The campus has closed for the holidays and students vacate the dorms, headed home to rest before the spring semester.

But there are a few who remain - - those whose families are too far away to travel home to. International students are left on the abandoned campus to celebrate the holiday season alone.

Graduate student April Doan says that for her, the holidays contain a certain kind of loneliness.

“You learn to do everything by yourself,” Doan says.

She came to Wichita State University five years ago from Vietnam and has grown used to the different traditions surrounding the season in America. She has never been able to travel home for the break because of the expense, and has spent a few holidays with friends and their families.

“The traditions here are completely different,” Doan says. “It’s all about food and family.”

This year, the Office of International Education partnered with the Community Service Board, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Rhatigan Student Center to host a Thanksgiving dinner on campus. Ryan Thorup, the international programming coordinator for international education, says they were trying to bridge the gap and provide an opportunity for students to have a traditional Thanksgiving experience.

“Most students are surprised by the history of it,” Thorup says. “Other countries have similar celebrations around harvest time, but they aren’t completely the same.”

The Thanksgiving dinner was open to all WSU students and allowed a time for domestic students to share their personal traditions. It gave some different perspectives as to what a family dinner looks like.

Doan describes the American holiday season in one word: bright. When she pictures Christmas, she thinks of lights hung everywhere; decorating trees, homes and storefronts alike.

While Doan will remain in America for the break, some students have the opportunity to go home. Sophomore Rachit Rajput has been at Wichita State since the 2015 spring semester and will travel home to India this break for the first time since arriving.

Rajput and Doan agree that family is the focus of their holiday season. Rajput is most excited to see his relatives over the break.

“This will be my time where I will share all my experiences about the states – my college, my workplace, friends and all,” says Rajput.