Every fourth Thursday in November, people in the USA celebrate their biggest family holiday—Thanksgiving Day—which exchange students also traditionally commemorate in Martin. This year, 19 international students accepted the invitation from Martin Rotarians and spent a long weekend in a warm, family atmosphere in Martin and Žilina.

Every fourth Thursday in November, people in the USA celebrate their biggest family holiday, Thanksgiving Day. So that the exchange students who spend this school year in Slovakia do not miss out on this pleasant festive moment, Martin Rotarians traditionally organize a celebration for them with roasted turkey. 

The Thanksgiving celebration in Martin was first organized by exchange students Madelyn Bryan and Liliana Wurfl from the USA in 2013. They brought recipes for preparing turkey and other dishes traditionally made in the USA for this occasion and helped cook them in cooperation with a professional chef. Today we can say that the celebration has been held every year, and it primarily invites exchange students from the USA who spend their year in Slovakia. In this way, Rotarians try to make their traditional and most important family holiday more pleasant at a time when they are away from home.

This year, Martin Rotarians invited all international students who are in Slovakia, and 19 of them accepted the invitation. Along with the students, representatives of several Slovak Rotary clubs also came, wishing to share pleasant moments with the students and create a family atmosphere for them. And so, in Martin they welcomed Rotarian friends from Bratislava, Nitra, Dunajská Streda, Banská Bystrica, and especially the largest delegation from Žilina.

At the beginning of the celebration, the students from the USA spoke about the history and tradition of this holiday, described how the gathering takes place in their families, and presented recipes and traditional dishes that are served in their homes on this day. Then came the long-awaited moment—the carving and portioning of the turkeys. Along with the turkey, the chefs, with the help of the students, prepared traditional special side dishes and small cakes. 

The family atmosphere was further highlighted by the fact that the students spent the entire long weekend in Martin and Žilina. During the day they had a shared program prepared by local Rotarians, but they stayed overnight exclusively in Rotarian families. All 19 students found accommodation and care—individually or in pairs—in the families of dedicated Rotarians from Martin and Žilina. As part of the prepared program, the students visited the largest online bookstore Martinus, enjoyed a classical music concert in the premises of the State Chamber Orchestra in Žilina, and took part in sports and social activities. 

Text: René Guráň, RC Martin
Photo: Miroslav Sabo, RC Žilina