Winter break in the U.S. for international students is mostly regarded as time to go back home and reunite with families. However, there are many students who stay in the country over the break and engage in other activities, such as traveling and job shadowing.

Ying Chen, sophomore in Engineering from China, is very fond of the holidays in the U.S. because she has a relative to visit in San Diego, California.

“My aunt always welcomes me to come over to her house and makes me feel like I am at home back in China,” Chen said. “Although I don’t go back to my homeland like most of the international students, I feel very satisfied over the break. We had a wonderful time traveling the city together over this Thanksgivings day in San Diego.” 

Jingtao Wu, freshman in DGS from China, said that break is a time to travel across the United States with friends, explore nature and have a time to bond. He said traveling with friends whom he feels comfortable with evokes a sense of euphoria.

“Staying on campus over the break is too lonely,” Wu said. 

He has four close friends from high school who go to school in California. Over Thanksgiving break, they went shopping and visited nature sights such as the Grand Canyon.

“The best part of my trip was that I was with my friends who understand me in a deeper level over the break,” Wu said. “By the time I came back to U. of I., I felt that I headed one more step toward inner grow(th).”

Han Li, freshman in Business, said that winter break is a wonderful opportunity to get involved in work within her field of interest and explore the United States more, although she cannot deny that she misses her family and friends in her homeland of China.

“Honestly, I do not understand fully why everyone is going back to their countries over the winter break,” she said. “Although I miss Beijing, my hometown, my friends, my pets and my sister, and even start to feel lonely when thinking about staying in the remote village of Illinois for a long time, I push myself to (make the) hard decision to stay in the U.S. for my future career.” 

This winter break, she will attend two job shadowing programs in Chicago. As a Business student, she said she thinks it’s important to take advantage of every opportunity she can have at the University. 

“Winter break is a perfect season for me to have a better understanding of real Business work outside of the classroom,” Li said.

However, there are obstacles that international students encounter when they travel or take on an internship: specifically, time conflicts and monetary issues.

“Initially, I planned to have a relaxing vacation in Miami Beach with one of my friends at U. of I.,” Li said. “Eventually, it did not work out due to my job shadow schedule. We planned to stay in Miami Beach for two weeks after my job shadows, but I have to work after Christmas and (in) early January.”

Wu said it’s hard to save enough money for traveling over winter break. He hasn’t had a job this semester, so he relies on money from his parents. 

“Monetary issue is a problem because the more places I want to go, the more money I need for the journey,” Wu said. “So, I am planning to get a job next semester.”

Although there are barriers to overcome, international students are eager to make the most out of winter break by staying and traveling within the U.S.

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