Twelve percent of University students are originally from places outside of the state of Georgia, making it impossible for every student to travel home — especially if it is on another continent.

International students turn to University housing for help when struggling to find a place to stay as dorms close over the Thanksgiving holidays. SEAN TAYLOR/Staff

International students who live in apartments or houses have the option of staying over Thanksgiving break, but as residence halls close over the holidays, dorm dwellers are left in a lurch.

University dorms are closed for Thanksgiving break from noon on Nov. 20 until Nov. 26, during which time all residents are expected to have somewhere else to stay. Exceptions to the dorm closings are East Campus Village, Reed Hall and Payne Hall.

Gerry Kowalski, executive director of University Housing, said students who anticipate having to stay on campus during breaks have the option of living in one of the halls that remains open.

“There is no specific University program set up to assist international students because there has not been a demand for one,” Kowalski said.

Leigh Poole, director of International Student Life, said in past years, students have contacted ISL to ask for help finding a place to stay during the break.

“We’ve had students who have contacted us in advance and said, we think our residence halls are closing so what are other possibilities?” Poole said. “And then that allows us some time to see if there are some different families in the area who might want to host an international student for the break.”

Kowalski said international students who live in a dorm usually find another option within the Athens community before contacting Housing about a place to stay.

“If the office of International Student Life gets in touch with us we will work with them,” Kowalski said. “Typically international students haven’t brought those concerns to us because they are connected enough in the community and have alternative options such as friends or family members.”

There are also programs available for international students who would like to stay with a host family in Athens or somewhere else in the U.S. over Thanksgiving break, Poole said.

“Community members will host different Thanksgiving meals on the day of Thanksgiving or provide a longer term situation, just depending on the need and availability for that particular year,” Poole said.

Poole said students are usually able to find somewhere to stay over the break without the help of ISL.

“Over the course of the year, students will make connections with other students,” Poole said. “Some of them will go on different trips to visit different parts of the United States, and others will take an opportunity to visit a relative that lives somewhere in the country.”