Staying at college for Winter break as an international student.

Before I even left for college and moved from London to New York, 3,461 miles away, there was one thing I was set on and that was not coming home to London for the winter break. Maybe this is because I, as a twenty-year-old woman, want so desperately to prove my independence to my friends and family and maybe because I also want to experience New York City for the holidays, especially as I am only here for a meagre year. Either way, I remain adamant that I. Am. Staying.

This, of course, did not go down well for my family. Many of my fellow international friends are going home for the holidays and this was certainly expected of me by my parents, my friends, even my long-distance boyfriend. My dad was so upset that he even called me last weekend to try and convince me to return home or even go and visit my sister in South Carolina or one of my aunts in New Jersey. He could not bare the thought of me waking up on Christmas day alone. Except—he saw me being alone as lonely which was definitely not the case. I simply told him how this is something that I find necessary as part of my growing up and he reluctantly obliged with the promise of a video call. 

After this call I began to wonder—would I feel lonely? Is it best if I check the flights and pay an absurd amount to join my family for Christmas day? Am I selfish for not wanting to come home? This, countered with the fact that my camera roll began making me sad videos of last Christmas that contained flashbacks of me putting the tree up with my little sister, was not helping. This was until I spoke with my friends that moved to New York City from London with me. Some of them are going home, but some of them are also staying. This made me wonder just how many people would also be staying at college for the holidays. My friend reassured me that me and her were not the only ones staying and besides, we would not be alone because we had each other!

I am lucky to have a friend like her and to be able to celebrate Christmas, thousands of miles away from my family, with her. Writing this, I hope that every other student, international or not, who is away from their family for the holidays has someone they can share this special time with. Collectively, on the day, we have decided to make hot chocolate together and wrap each other presents and spend the day in our pjs and I could not be more excited! Christmas this year may be a little different, but I have spent twenty years back home in London, surrounded by my family, and this year I want some change. 

Being in New York City means that I also get to do so many more touristy things! I can visit Bryant Park and eat at the over-priced, tourist-trap food stalls, go ice skating at Rockefeller centre (again), see the big Christmas tree a few times, see it snow! I can even pretend to be in one of those Hallmark Christmas films. It may be cliché, but I could not be more excited for Christmas this year and I hope that every other student, like me, that stays, has the best time of their lives. 

Lotte Palace Hotel NYC via Wikimedia Commons