UAF's isolation from the rest of the U.S. and the sheer size of Alaska change the holiday dynamic for a lot of students who are living away from home while they go to school. It means that students spend the time away from their families and loved ones, or they have to travel great distances to be home for the Thanksgiving holiday.

For some students, the idea of staying on campus during the holidays is unthinkable. When November arrives, they look forward to taking a break from their classes and reconnecting with their families outside of Fairbanks.

"My family will get together and eat turkey and dressing and I can focus on my loved ones while I'm there," said Casey Stanton, who spoke about his own tradition of returning home to Washington State for the holidays.

"I look forward to going home all semester," said Ryan Boothe, who will also return home for Thanksgiving. Like Stanton, his family enjoys a traditional meal.

Since Boothe is from southern Alaska, he has a lot less distance to travel than most, and that makes it easier for him to return home for each holiday throughout the year. This is something that many students find difficult to do, because if you live in the Lower 48 the price of transportation can become quite considerable. Students who live out of state must bear a hefty cost for a plane ticket to go home for the short Thanksgiving break and most choose to stay in Fairbanks.

Raymond Owen, 21, is skeptical of the first Thanksgiving meal he will have away from his home state of Virginia. "It sucks because Alaskans don't know how to celebrate Thanksgiving proper," Owen said.

Mallory McCormick, 19, is from Canada and missed her Thanksgiving, which was held in October. She will participate in the American festivity at the house of one of her teammates. She and the other girls on the volleyball team who are not going home will enjoy a meal cooked by one mom who is arriving from Anchorage.

The Lola Tilly Commons is providing a Thanksgiving meal for students with a meal plan, but most have found their home away from home here in Fairbanks or surrounding areas. Miriam Braun, 23 will spend the weekend in a cabin with her friend. This will be her first Thanksgiving away from home and she hopes to take this time to explore a little bit of Fairbanks's surroundings.

For some, being away from home helps to reinforce bonds with new people and create a home away from home.

Still, 22-year-old Jason Brewer from Oregon has some trepidation about the meal. He has to be sure to make a good impression because he will be spending it with his girlfriend and her parents.