Thanksgiving Traditions from ISSS

ISSS team members share their favorite Thanksgiving traditions with you.

Lena Meadows, SEVIS Coordinator

  • What’s your favorite thing about Thanksgiving? Being able to spend time with family and eat great food.
  • What are some Thanksgiving traditions in your household? On Thanksgiving we watch football and play board games.
  • What is something that you’re thankful for? Through these tough times, being able to be with family.

Suzanne Pendergrass, Assistant Director of International Student Services

  • What’s your favorite thing about Thanksgiving? Spending time and sharing a meal with family and friends.
  • What are some Thanksgiving traditions in your household? Spending time with the people you love.
  • What is something that you’re thankful for? Family, friends and health.

Kenneth Ing, SEVIS Coordinator

  • What’s your favorite thing about Thanksgiving? Pumpkin flavors everywhere!
  • What are some Thanksgiving traditions in your household? Making chocolate-chip oatmeal muffins to eat Thanksgiving morning.
  • What is something that you’re thankful for? My health

Khim Lok, Office Coordinator

  • What’s your favorite thing about Thanksgiving? I love the gathering of families and friends during this holiday. It’s the beginning of two major celebrations (Thanksgiving & Christmas) and I get really excited about the festivities. One of my favorite things to do is to set the menu, which is typically not turkey. Instead we have a variety of food, potluck style.
  • What are some Thanksgiving traditions in your household? The day after Thanksgiving my family goes out and get our Christmas tree. It’s a tradition we’ve done since the kids were little. Afterward we start playing Christmas music and decorate the house and trees (we usually have 3-4 Christmas trees around the house).
  • What is something that you’re thankful for? I’m thankful for my family; for good health; for my parents; for my siblings; and for my career at SJSU.

Keri Toma, International Programs Manager

  • What’s your favorite thing about Thanksgiving? I love gathering around the table with family and friends, sharing a wonderful meal, and having the house smell so good from all the delicious foods being cooked.
  • What are some Thanksgiving traditions in your household? Watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade on tv while baking pumpkin pies the morning of Thanksgiving. I also enjoy watching football games throughout the day, but my favorite part is when family and friends come together. Unfortunately, this year will be a quiet Thanksgiving, but hopefully next year will be back to normal.
  • What is something that you’re thankful for? I am fortunate to be able to do what I do; to have family and friends who are caring and supportive of me, no matter what.

Parinaz Zartoshty, Director, International Student & Scholar Services

Parinaz Zartoshty,
Director of ISSS

  • What’s your favorite thing about Thanksgiving? The food and being with family. It is the only time of year I can count on spending time with my siblings, nephews and nieces, my mom and of course my own kids and partner.
  • What are some Thanksgiving traditions in your household? We always take time to reflect about the things for which we are thankful before we start eating the feast. We also leave the food on the table for hours so constant grazing all day.
  • What is something that you’re thankful for?I am thankful for my personal and work families. I also feel blessed to be able to do (as my job) something that I truly love.

Read more Thanksgiving stories and find great fall-inspired recipes by clicking on the links below:

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