Annual Celebration of religious holiday as an international student-reflections of identity and belonging

For many international students attending school in a foreign country, identity unfolds between two different calendars—that of their own and the new environment they are being put in. Outside of academic quarters and social lives with people from different cultures, the cultures of their own country take up equal importance. As the Chinese New Year strikes the calendar, my school’s annual celebration once again reflects on belonging, warmth, and cultural confidence.

My school hosts different kinds of events for the celebration of religious holidays from many different countries, since the students and faculty on campus represent more than 40 countries around the globe. This year, for the Chinese New Year in particular, there were multiple traditional celebrations, including activities like calligraphy writing, Chinese dance performances, and a specially designed Chinese menu in the cafeteria, etc. Though I am not usually a fan of exaggerating celebrations, my loneliness and the subtle disappointment of being

thousands of kilometers away from home at the time of reunion were instantly eased by seeing the red lanterns and writings hung high up on the walls.

When I first arrived in the States, everything was unfamiliar, and it took me considerable effort to get accustomed to the completely different cultures, living styles, and basically how everything works here. It is not a typical thing for me to be this independent and handle emotions all by myself, especially when the most motivating relief I can think of is FaceTiming my parents. However, noticing my classmates’ strong interest in learning about my country’s culture and being embraced by warmth and genuine blessings from my teachers, I truly learned the

actual framework of belonging. Instead of exotic novelties, my surroundings renewed my perception of cultural confidence and identity.

The events further revealed the deeper psychological structure commonly seen among international students. Transitioning to a new country involves painful adaptations—getting to know new norms, communicating with people of different backgrounds, and always pushing to meet expectations and care from distant homes. During the process, self-recognition and determination might gradually diminish. I’ve had sleepless nights before, asking myself if I made

the right decision, if my friends would truly accept me for my background, and if my culture would still be emphasized in such a diverse community.

Whereas the extent of respect and focus of school communities can be truly vital to the self-assurance of their international students. Not only was my feeling of homesickness greatly diminished, but such celebrations significantly inspired me that integration does not require erasure, and that I have every freedom to navigate worlds other than solely where I grew up.

With the cheerful chants and holiday rhythm felt everywhere around campus, this year’s New Year once again reminded me of how much I have. Hearing my family’s voices across half of the world and being genuinely cared for in a completely different country, I was once again told that cultural identity is never the barrier to integration, but the foundation of involvement. In sharing

our own religions, we are working together toward a more inclusive future.