[fcatalan]

Not as hugely generous as this story, but during his whole college professor career since the 70s, my father always took care that none of his students spent any major holidays alone and away from home, so we always ended up having 2 or 3 of them around for Christmas, the New Year, Easter... They were from everywhere around the country and the world, and it was so very enriching for me and my siblings. I had a huge postage stamp collection from the ever increasing well wishing mail that arrived. It's also kind of comforting to think that anywhere in the world you are not that far from someone that remembers you fondly.

[neilv]

That seems to be one of the things that some great professors do. I've heard of that convention from many colleges/universities.

At any university, look for the professors who act like benevolent citizens of the best of university ideals. They don't all do it in the same way, but they're some of the best.

I like to think of the university as a microcosm, and incubator, for how you'd like larger society to be.

[m463]

You can do the same for work colleagues. This has happened to me throughout my career when time/money/circumstance kept me away from family/home during holidays.

It was greatly appreciated, and fun!

[jwrallie]

That’s nice, I once ended up alone around New Year, a mix of being far away from family, busy with studies and not actively asking people around to join their events due to being shy.

One of my friends that lived nearby spotted me walking alone and invited me over. Another of her friends joined in. It was just the three of us, and it was much, much better than spending it alone.

[gommm]

When I was an exchange student at RIT and had just arrived from France a month before, one of the admin staff invited me and a friend in the same situation for thanksgiving because she didn't want to leave us by ourselves for a major holiday. I have fond memories of that kindness.

[ekjhgkejhgk]

Huh, I wish to some time be in the position to do this.

[cafard]

The Colorado School of Mines had a "host family" program for foreign students. My father was a geologist, and we lived about five miles from the School of Mines, so we/they acted as host family for students from Italy, Nigeria, China, and no doubt countries I've forgotten. This included invitations to holiday meals, drives into the mountains, etc.

[Gibbon1]

My dad said his grandfather always had a teenager or two at the dinner table who had no where else to go. Not just Christmas but all year. My parents did the same with a friend of mine and one of my sisters friends.

[rajeshrajappan]

It's great to hear there are amazing people like your father. We need more of these people in this world.