Global Lounge Thanksgiving Celebration
On 24th November 2021, Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS) International Office hosted a joyful Thanksgiving celebration at FSS Global Lounge. Around fifty students and fifteen staff attended the event. Although we are still in this battle of the pandemic, let’s not forget our blessings. There is so much to be thankful for!
FSS Global Lounge is a platform where local students connect with international students to forge a better understanding of the world. Social Sciences Faculty International Office (FIO) have hosted many international festivities in the past such as Ramadan, Diwali, Chinese New Year, etc... It is particularly meaningful this year that we celebrate Thanksgiving.
Vice President International and FSS Dean Prof Jane Falkingham opened the event with a warm welcome. Our American and Canadian colleagues, FIO Senior Executive Officer Ms. Song Utz, Associate Dean Education Prof Jim Anderson, Volunteer Manager from the Office of Development and Alumni Relations Mr. Christopher Shank and our special guest Ms. Natalie Burnand, joined the panel to share their family traditions and personal experiences around Thanksgiving. Dr. Bernice Kuang gave a talk on Thanksgiving through life trajectory from a demographer’s perspective. The programme culminated to a Thanksgiving quiz when all attendees were wringing their brain over historical facts around the holiday. So, do you know which ingredient was not included in the first Thanksgiving meal, swan, turkey, seal, or lobster?
Since traditional food has always been a large part of Thanksgiving celebrations. This year FIO also prepared an authentic Thanksgiving dinner experience for students. Last week about 60 students received a Thanksgiving food pack to cook with: green beans, mash potatoes, carrots, cranberry sauce, etc. We hope that they had a wonderful cooking experience with fellow students!
We asked all the attendees to tell us what they were thankful for. It’s a joy to read their answers. Check them out in the attached photos. As our Associate Dean International Prof Sabu Padmadas said in the closing remark of the event, we are hopeful that our next celebration will be Covid-free. After the engaging programme, attendees enjoyed a wonderful live concert with the American rock band Black Kat Boppers in the physical Global Lounge in building 54. It has been a while for many of us to dance together with classmates and colleagues.
A special thank you to all members of the planning committee Ms. Song Utz, Dr. Bernice Kuang, Mr. Thomas Kelan Chang and Dr. Rob Angell, and the operation team Miss. Daisy Lauren Sherburn, Ms. Miriam Gomez Lopez and Miss Jenna Graham for making the event possible. We also thank all attendees for being such good sports: they were required to present this season’s special: a negative test result within 48 hours at the door!
Happy Thanksgiving everybody!
