The holiday season is upon us, and that means it’s the time of year for reflection and spending quality time with friends and family. Each person has their own unique holiday traditions that they do every year, and Strategic Communication Ph.D. student Shalewa Babatayo is no exception. Babatayo shares her meaningful holiday traditions in Nigeria as well as compares her experience living in the U.S. during the holiday season.
“While I appreciate the holidays here in the US, I cannot help but miss the different ways holidays are celebrated in Nigeria. Nigerians are known for being vibrant people who love to show off in the best possible way, from food to fashion, to culture, to entertainment, as well as with large gatherings, and all of these are what is usually celebrated during the holidays. Holidays here in the U.S., feel more intimate and family-centered, which is lovely, but for an international student with no family here, is it usually very lonely and definitely makes me miss the lively, expressive spirit of home (Nigeria) all the more”.
Written by Majdulina Hamed.
Published to Nicholson News on December 6th, 2024.
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