By Matthew Chan | Opinions Editor

The classic American stereotype of the Thanksgiving holiday involves a big family gathering and a large meal of turkey, cranberry sauce, and cornbread, among other food.  However, the Thanksgiving holiday is not bounded by religion or ethnicity and is a uniquely American experience.  Thus cultural diversity and different familial habits leads to varying ways of celebrating Thanksgiving, especially at Irvington.

Despite many different cultural influences, many Irvington students enjoy staying at home and relaxing rather than hosting a large celebration.  “I normally sit at home, eat half a turkey and a lot of Indian food, do some homework, and sleep,” said senior Sachin Sadana.  A large part of the Irvington community spends Thanksgiving catching up on previous homework or having an extended respite from the stresses of everyday high school life.

In addition, a large part of the Irvington Thanksgiving experience involves consuming special dishes.  “On Thanksgiving, my family goes to a Chinese restaurant and we get a large Peking duck,” said junior Derek Feng.  “I mean, who wants to eat turkey when you can have a Beijing roast duck?”

“Eat,” said junior Michelle Chin, describing the spirit of Thanksgiving in one concise word while others, like junior Gibson Chu likes to “go to my grandma’s house.  I help her make the mashed potatoes,” he said, “because they taste good.”

“Every year before we eat, I like to hang out on the trampoline with my friends,” said sophomore Kelly Kelbe, depicting her Thanksgiving routine.  “After we eat the feast of food, the desserts come out and everyone comes together to play Pictionary.”

In addition, many Irvington students travel during Thanksgiving break.  Whether to visit relatives, explore new cities, or just for fun, many students spend time with their families by travelling.  “I’m going to India with my family this break,” said junior Vaibhav Aggarwal.

Sophomore Giorgio Atanasov also enjoys traveling with his family.  “This year my family and friends are going to Las Vegas to spend time with each other and I guess have a little fun while we are at it,” he said.

Due to the mix of cultures and ease of transportation in the Bay Area, Irvington students spend their Thanksgivings doing activities that deviate from the standard American turkey-filled stereotype.