Foreign students share Christmas experiences

December 27, 2011 at 5:59 a.m. | Updated December 27, 2011 at 5:59 a.m.

Westminster College sophomores Miran Milavic (left) and Azer Donko, both from Bosnia-Herzegovina, eat lunch together Monday in the college canteen. The students say they keep busy over Christmas break by working on campus.

Spending Christmas with family, friends and loved ones is a tradition. For some, however, going home over the holidays is not an option.

For many of Westminster College's international students, a trip home is too far and expensive, so they spend the Christmas break on campus.

Azer Donko, sophomore from Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina, said staying on campus is "not bad."

"You get to rest," he said.

But then he added that he also works over the break in the college's admission office. Donko said there's no point in spending $3,000 on a plane ticket home for three weeks.

"It's better to stay here and earn (money)," he said.

Miran Milavic, also a sophomore from Mostar, agreed that going to see his family over the break wasn't affordable.

"If I could, I would go home," he said.

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