Lili Liu, a UPEI masters student from Luoyang, China, says that during her time in Canada she has noticed similarities between western customs and some Chinese traditions, particularly at this time of year.
“Christmas here is kind of like the Chinese New Year in my land where people prepare food,” she said. “The people from all over come together and come back home. It’s about family, friends and celebrating.”
Liu, who came to Prince Edward Island in 2015, is one of about 65 UPEI students who stay on campus over the holidays.
To help give the students a sense of community, the university keeps some residences open and hires a holiday break co-ordinator to organize activities.
Liu, 26, says she enjoys the events for international students hosted by the school. Recently she took part in a more informal Christmas tradition - she bought an “ugly Christmas sweater.”
Liu says she is enjoying learning and discovering the culture of Canadians at Christmas time.
“I decorated a tree, made Christmas cookies and sang Christmas songs. But because I don’t have that culture in my experience, I couldn’t feel as strong as feelings as the Canadians,” she said. “But I loved the experience.”
One thing students can yearn for over the holidays is communal meals.
Inge Dorsey, a lecturer at UPEI, along with her husband Rob Kelley, have annually invited about 50 international students to a traditional Christmas turkey dinner at their home for the last eight years. Dorsey said it is very much a collaborative effort with other faculty and staff at UPEI volunteering their time. The couple is unable to host this year due to family reasons, but they have offered to finance the event. Dorsey says the dinner is a chance for both the hosts and their guests to learn about different cultures.
“International students don’t often get to connect with people in the community, such as going to somebody’s house. So this was initiated as a way to host students in that home environment. They get to see what somebody’s house looks and feels like at Christmas time,” Dorsey said.
Another annual event for international students is held by Connection Point Church. They will host 41 UPEI international students for their fifth annual dinner on Dec. 17. Organizer Bob Crockett, says the church always tries to help out the international community in P.E.I. with various needs.
“A couple of years ago, there was a great need for household goods and furniture. We managed to gather up some furnishings and utensils, pots and pans for them and delivered them. It’s ongoing. As much as we can we try to help out,” said Crockett.
The P.E.I. Association for Newcomers to Canada also has a holiday host program that dates back 24 years. At some point over the holidays, a family or group of Islanders hosts newcomers for a dinner in their home.
Joe Byrne, a community connections supervisor at the newcomers association, is in the process of doing matching for the meals for this holiday season.
“It’s very flexible in terms of time and where people want to go. It’s generally supper, but it can also be a family party,” he said. “We’ve had all kinds of different approaches to it, because how we celebrate Christmas is so different from family to family.”
Anyone who would like to volunteer as a dinner host can contact the P.E.I. Association of Newcomers to Canada at 902-628-6009.
Meanwhile, Liu is looking forward to more activities at UPEI over the study break.
“I love to see how (Canadians) celebrate this holiday.”
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The Guardian’s I Believe series, which will be published both in print and online between now and Christmas, will include inspirational and uplifting stories to get us in the holiday spirit. If you have a story that you believe should be part of the I Believe series, please email [email protected].
Other stories in the I Believe series:
I BELIEVE: Children of inmates at P.E.I. jail get presents for Christmas
I BELIEVE: Summerside boy has wish granted, spends a week in Los Angeles
I BELIEVE: Musical Christmas lights display up and running in Indian River
I BELIEVE: Christmas together on P.E.I.
I BELIEVE: Boy on P.E.I. bringing joy to children, buying gifts for Islanders in need
