(KCEN) -- When you think of Thanksgiving turkey, stuffing and football often come to mind.
But for some here in Central Texas these holiday staples are completely new.
The Smith family welcomed two students from India, one from St. Lucia and one from Sri Lanka.
All of the students study at Baylor, some are working for their masters and doctorate.
But even though they were thousands of miles away from home, the Smith's made this American holiday one they remember.
On one of the most American holidays the Smith family blessed their Thanksgiving feast the way Chamath Chondrasakara would at his home in Sri Lanka.
But he still got to experience the holiday, the traditional way.
Chondrasakara, a Bio Chem Major at Baylor, says, "What I am really looking forward to this time is Cyber Monday and Black Friday."
Each exchange student stays with a different Baylor family, getting a world class education and absorbing American culture.
Host Melanie Smith says, "The one thing they tell me when they come to Baylor is we want to have Thanksgiving dinner, we want a turkey, dressing, watch American football and take a nap."
Lokesh has been studying at Baylor since last summer and is looking to get his MBA.
When Lokesh started at Baylor, he sat next to Terrance Ganaway, who played running back, and now plays for the St. Louis Rams.
"Terrance Ganaway was sitting next to me and he said 'I play football' I said 'okay yea! I also play football' he said 'what position do you play?' I said 'I'm a goal keeper,'" says Lokesh Modi.
"It's really great having that personal connection with a professor, something I'm not accustomed to back in Sri Lanka."
At this dining table family members come from thousands of miles away.
And when I spoke with a couple of the students about what they thought about the food they loved the mashed potatos but thought the dressing was a little spicy.
