Lafayette Journal & CourierSharing holiday in a global fashionBy BETH STUTSMAN
"I'm looking forward to meeting some people and experiencing some of the Thanksgiving spirit," the electrical engineering student from Turkey said. But it wasn't exactly the traditional American Thanksgiving meal that was planned for the evening. Communication professor Mohan Dutta, originally from India, has experimented with the traditional meal in the five years that he's invited international students to his home for the decidedly American holiday. He's found that it's more interesting to have students bring a traditional meal from their native country. "This is a great way to see the beauty of different cultures," Dutta said. The professor began this new tradition with his international students at Purdue because he remembers what it was like when he was an international student and everyone, but him, went home for the holidays. "This was a difficult time because I didn't have anywhere to go," he said. About 15 international students and faculty came to celebrate with Dutta Thursday evening. "I'm from India. I don't have any family here and so it is a good thing to do," Rebecca Desouza, a graduate communication student, said. It was the second year that Iccha Basnyat, a graduate communication student from Nepal, attended. She said, "It's nice to have a place to go and see everybody."
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