“We enjoyed meeting Badr and learning more about his home country, Tanzania, and we were excited to meet Rohitha and learn about her experiences so far in Rhode Island,” Osayimwese said. “As a multicultural, multiethnic family with international roots and experiences, we think it is very important to support cultural exchange and build cross-cultural and transnational understanding at the institutional level as well as at the individual level.” 

For Myla, the experience reminded her of “the joy of belonging and togetherness, even far from home.”

“The Global Holiday Table program felt like a wonderful way to recreate that sense of togetherness,” said Myla, who is pursuing a master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering with a focus on artificial intelligence. “They were so warm, welcoming and kind — and honestly, it was one of the best meals I’ve had since coming here.”

Tuba Tasneem, a Fulbright foreign language teaching assistant at Brown who is from India, enjoyed a late-December meal at the home of Assistant Dean for Brown-RISD Programs Jordan Rockford and his partner Germán Pallares, who is a faculty member at the Rhode Island School of Design from Mexico. Tasneem cherished the chance to connect with people during a time when she didn’t have a lot to do.

“I had Mexican food for the first time and loved it, especially the enchiladas,” Tasneem recalled. “I met people with different life experiences, and we had an interesting conversation ranging from languages to passports and airports.” 

Similarly, the experience was meaningful for Rockford and Pallares. 

“I love meeting new students, especially international students, and getting to know them, as well as supporting community building here at Brown,” Rockford said. “One of the nicest moments was when Tuba and Nasrin both noticed that it was the first time in a long while that they were sitting family-style around a table for dinner, enjoying conversation and a mindful meal, instead of in front of a screen or on the go.”

Vice President for Alumni Relations Zack Langway hosted a holiday lunch for two students, including senior Sima Raha, who is from Afghanistan. She appreciated the chance to spend time with Langway’s family and enjoy casual conversation about topics like favorite movies and shows.

“Last year during winter break, I felt lonely and homesick — so it was special to see his kids, and I loved the food,” said Raha, who is studying economics. “I also found it informative and unique to see a man cooking, as cooking is traditionally considered a woman’s role in my country. It was the first time I saw a male couple preparing food, decorating their home and raising children with such love and dedication. It was truly inspiring.”

Building on the ‘Brown community spirit’

The Global Holiday Table initiative builds on a range of existing winter break resources to support students on Brown’s campus, including a handful of teas and luncheons, a collaborative cooking night, a movie outing and a group chat facilitated by Global Brown. But the addition of the new program is enabling a new dimension of personalized, unique opportunities for community and connection at Brown, Cheng said.

“For many, the Global Holiday Table serves as more than just a meal — it’s an opportunity to create lasting memories, build meaningful relationships and feel truly supported during a quieter time of year,” Cheng said. “It’s been wonderful to see the connections and sense of community this program has fostered.”

The initiative also created opportunities to help students acclimate to campus life and expand community engagement, according to Director of Campus Life Communications Kate Porter, who co-hosted a meal with Swearer Center colleagues Samani Kim, Dilania Inoa and Daniel Turner at Kim’s house in January with graduate student in engineering Jully Kato, from Japan, and graduate student in cognitive and psychological sciences Wennie Jian, from China.

“Community at Brown is larger than academics and programming — it’s about building connections and feeling part of something larger, and this program really captured that Brown community spirit,” said Porter, who enjoyed the dinner as well as driving the students and engaging in one-on-one conversations during the ride. “It was really fun, and it also provided an opportunity to help the students learn about more campus resources, different spaces on campus and opportunities to get involved and integrate more fully in campus life.”

For Assistant Professor of Family Medicine Dr. Jordan White, the Global Holiday Table program presented an opportunity to demonstrate hospitality in an era of heightened scrutiny around immigration and international citizens in the U.S. White, her husband and their 11- and 13-year-old kids were eager to open their Providence home to graduate students Yingyue Jiang and Anoop Kiran in mid-January.

“I traveled in college and afterwards and I always really appreciated being welcomed by people along the way, whether through a formal exchange or more informal gatherings,” White said. “I also believe that it is very important to be active in welcoming people from all backgrounds, in part to counteract some of the other messaging that is out there in the world right now about who is welcome in the United States.”

Throughout winter break, more than 50 students, faculty and staff participated in the inaugural Global Holiday Table initiative, including undergraduate Kira Ivanova from Ukraine, who met for lunch in January with Mary Jordan, the director of new student programs and community initiatives in residential life.

“It has been a highlight of my winter break,” Ivanova said.

Cheng said the new initiative has been an overwhelming success.

“These transformative experiences helped turn a potentially lonely season into one filled with warmth, connection and a renewed sense of belonging,” Cheng said. “Programs like the Global Holiday Table exemplify Brown’s commitment to inclusivity, diversity and the well-being of all its students.”