Stephanie Anderson (right) reuniting with her friend Cristal Wei. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

New York University Shanghai has thrown a week-long celebration on campus, bringing together students and faculties to share over 100 turkeys, thousands of slices of pie, and light-hearted and grateful moments in celebration of the American holiday of Thanksgiving.

Founded in 2012, NYU Shanghai is the first Sino-US joint research university in China and the third degree-granting campus of NYU with an enrollment of some 1,900 students and an international faculty.

"2020 has been extremely challenging for our community here in Shanghai and around the world," said Dean of Students David Pe. "We wanted to take a moment to give thanks for what we do have, when the world has experienced such loss."

The university is usually closed for Thanksgiving, but because of the pandemic-induced delay to the start of the fall semester, school remained in session for the whole week. University officials, however, decided that the holiday could not go uncelebrated. Pe worked with campus caterer Sproutworks to give every student -- both NYU Shanghai and Go Local students from other NYU campuses -- a chance to sign up for a free turkey dinner with all the trimmings: mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, roasted vegetables, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie every evening during Thanksgiving week.

A meal of turkey with all the trimmings: mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, roasted vegetables, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie was offered free to students all week. For students in the final stages of quarantine, the Thanksgiving meal was boxed up and delivered. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

For many students, it was their first time tasting a traditional Thanksgiving meal.

"Before this week, I only knew of Thanksgiving as something my English teacher brought up in class every year. We never celebrated, but we knew about the meanings," said Sophie Peng, a native of Chongqing.

Pedro Petcov (right) with new friends at the Thanksgiving dinner. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

"This week I got to have my first Thanksgiving dinner with my friends and I loved how the meal brought us together to enjoy time with each other."

Most of NYU Shanghai's international students -- who represent half of the student body -- are still spread out across over 70 countries around the world due to the pandemic. But many have begun returning -- or for the freshmen, arriving for the first time -- to Shanghai. About 30 international students so far have completed 14 days' quarantine, multiple COVID tests, and 7-day post-quarantine isolation, while more than 80 are still in various stages of quarantine. Dozens more are expected to arrive in the coming weeks.

Thanksgiving Day also happened to be freshman Pedro Petcov's first time ever on campus. Most of NYU Shanghai's international students are still spread out across over 70 countries around the world due to the pandemic. But many have begun returning to Shanghai in recent weeks.

"It's amazing to be on campus and meeting people in-person for the first time," said Petcov, who arrived three weeks ago from McLean, Virginia of the United States and had just completed quarantine. "It's Thanksgiving, of course I'm missing my family a bit, but Thanksgiving here feels familiar. Like I'm home."

For Stephanie Anderson, of Atlanta, Georgia, it was just her second day back on campus after almost eleven months away from Shanghai. "For me, even though today is Thanksgiving and I'm away from my family, I don't feel sad and I don't feel lonely," she said. "I'm finally back with this family, and I'm so grateful to everyone that helped me get back here."

The university's Student Government committee has also spearheaded a gratitude program to show thankfulness to the service workers at NYU Shanghai by writing thank-you notes.

Students writing notes of gratitude to their classmates and NYU Shanghai’s support staff. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

"This year, the ayis and shifus are working hard with COVID-19 prevention and much of their work is unseen. We hope to use this chance to show our great appreciation for their commitments," said Guan Xiaoyi, Director of the Student Life and Residence Committee.

"I hope this event will remind students that we should not take their excellent service for granted and that they play an important role in our NYU Shanghai community."