Winter break is fast approaching at the University of Texas at Dallas. While many Comets are looking forward to time away from class, international students are preparing for their break a bit differently. Winter break spans from December 16 to January 20, and for international students at UT Dallas, that month-long stretch requires far more planning than a quick drive home.
Political science junior Toby Lill, a transfer student on an exchange year from the University of Liverpool in England, plans to return to the United Kingdom for Christmas. “As soon as I finish, I’m heading to New York for a day or two. I’m flying home from there and then I’ll be straight to the pub,” Lill said.
For many international students, the option to fly home is tempting but expensive. For Lill, however, the chance to reunite with his family and friends outweighs the cost. “I can’t wait to spend Christmas Day with my parents, grandparents and my brother who’s coming home from Sheffield. I’m also going to have a big house party with all my mates on New Year’s Eve and take the train down to Liverpool to see my uni pals,” he said.
International students often experience culture shock when they move to the U.S., and winter break can offer a chance to ease homesickness by revisiting familiar traditions. “I miss the pub culture of England so much,” Lill said. “UTD doesn’t have anything like it, so I’m buzzing to be back in the pub before I have to fly back here, unfortunately.”
The J-1 exchange visa limits students to on-campus work for no more than 20 hours a week. For Lill, going home for the holidays also means returning to a job that helps fund his studies. “I’m going to work as many hours as I can in my lifeguarding job as well, so I can save up enough money to afford another semester here,” he said.
Other students, such as information technology and systems junior SeoHyun Jung, an exchange student from South Korea, plan to spend the break exploring the U.S. “First of all, I’m going to Portland to meet my friend,” Jung said. “Since Portland is known for its coffee, I’m really excited to check it out. After that, I’m going on a road trip to Colorado with my friends here to visit places like Rocky Mountain and the Great Sand Dunes. Then I’m flying to New York to celebrate New Year’s. Watching the Times Square countdown has always been on my bucket list, so I’m finally doing it this year.” After New York, Jung plans to head to Boston to explore four states in four weeks.
While many domestic students choose to spend the holidays at home with their families, international students seize the opportunity to experience a different kind of winter break. In just a few weeks, many travel more of the U.S. than some lifelong Texans, making every moment abroad count.
An exchange student from Spain, Mario Paliza, plans to travel to Miami, Florida once classes end. “My family and I will probably travel to a nice hotel somewhere in Spain to spend New Years, and then go back to Madrid to celebrate the Three Kings Day and see the big parade there usually is in Madrid,” Paliza said.
Observed on January 6, Three Kings Day is a major holiday in Spain. The holiday marks the arrival of the three wise men at Jesus’ place of birth. It is on this day that Spanish children often receive their main Christmas presents. Paliza is fortunate enough to be home for the celebration, though many cultural holidays, such as Diwali and Eid, fall during the academic semester preventing students from celebrating at home.
For exchange students like Paliza, winter break often marks the end of their time at UT Dallas. The same is true for business administration graduate student Lucas Jacques, who is currently on an exchange semester from NEOMA Business School in Paris, France. Jacques plans to make the most of his final weeks in the U.S. before returning to Paris.
“Before coming back to France, I’m going to Orlando to visit theme parks, and then I’m going to Miami to enjoy the sun and do some sightseeing,” he said. Because his J-1 visa grants 30 days of post-study travel, Jacques will not return to France until Dec. 24.
Christmas is celebrated differently across the countries of Europe. Once home, Jacques will celebrate Christmas with his family. “In France, we always celebrate on the [December] 24 because it’s Christmas Eve, and then we celebrate again on the [December.] 25 around 3 p.m.,” he said. “There isn’t a specific traditional meal, but we usually eat salmon, foie gras, oysters and meat with potatoes.”
For international students who will return for another semester, flying home round-trip can be expensive. Lill’s return ticket to London Heathrow cost nearly $600, though prices can exceed $1,000 during peak travel periods.
“I think international students should be given a bit more leeway,” Lill said. “If I could miss a couple of days of class, my flight could have been so much cheaper.” With attendance weighing heavily in many UT Dallas courses, students often face a difficult choice between affordability and academic performance.
From visa limitations and long-distance travel to financial constraints and jet lag, international students navigate challenges that many domestic students will never face. Making the most of winter break – whether by traveling home or exploring the U.S. – becomes yet another hurdle international students take on.
Lucas Jaques visited California during Thanksgiving break, stopping to see Hollywood, Santa Monica Pier and Venice Beach.
