Christina Atanasoska

After a day of family, turkey and stories, junior Christina Atanasoska heads out to stand in line, waiting for the best deals on Black Friday.

“We leave right after dinner and dessert,” Atanasoska said. “Then me and my dad head out to a store and wait from six until twelve so we can get in first.”

She usually ends up going to Walmart, where she believes, the best deals are. In the past, Atanasoska purchased headphones, a flat screen TV, and a camera all discounted at 70 percent.

“This year my goal is to get rosetta stone,” Atanasoska said. “I love learning new languages and if it’s on sale, it’ll be my first choice.”

She and her dad go Black Friday shopping every year since she was 12 and plan to continue the tradition.

“It’s really great to be with family on Thanksgiving,” Atanasoska said. “Thats why being with my dad and going shopping is so exciting.”

Paulina Kern

Turkey, Mickey Mouse, stuffing and cinderella: german sophomore foreign exchange student Paulina Kern see’s an array of American novelties on her first American thanksgiving.

“My host family and I are going to Disney World for thanksgiving,” Kern said. “It’s really exciting since I’ve never done anything like this.”

The only holiday that Germany celebrates similar to Thanksgiving is Tag Der Deutschen Einheit.  On that day German students are excused from school and work is cancelled across the board.

Kern and her host family have four day passes to the parks and Kern is hoping to see more of Florida as well.

“This is my first experience with Thanksgiving,” Kern said. “So I wanna see if it’s like in the movies where everyone gets enthusiastic about Thanksgiving ”

Olivia Metty

In sixth grade, junior Olivia Metty’s Thanksgiving routine changed drastically.

“My parents divorced when I was 12,” Metty said. “When holidays roll around things get kinda confusing because of the separation.”

Metty’s parents decided on a holiday routine and who would have the kids on what day. Thanksgiving was called into question. Metty and her siblings would be bounced around every other year.

“We go back and forth,” Metty said. One year it’s thanksgiving at dads and the next is at my moms,.”

Both of her parents are remarried,and  the Thanksgiving tradition changed once again. Metty now has two stepsisters on her mom’s side and a stepbrother and sister on her dad’s.

“I really get excited for thanksgiving,” Metty said. “But it sometimes stinks that I dont get to spend it with both of my parents.”