A call for participation in the Host for the Holidays program is generating more interest from prospective guests than hosts, say organizers.

The program matches international students far from home with Windsor families willing to share Thanksgiving dinner.

“We have a lot of students coming forward, interested in learning more about Canadian culture and celebrations,” says international student advisor Enrique Chacon. “I am worried that we may disappoint a lot of them unless we can recruit more hosts from the staff and faculty.”

He says student applicants represent many cultures and countries – from Burundi and Nigeria to Lebanon and Saudi Arabia, from India and Iran to Colombia, China and Italy.

The application process matches hosts with guests based on a number of factors—dietary preferences, tolerance for pets, timing of the meal, and even convenience of transportation

Chacon had intended to cut off applications by October 4 to allow time to make the matches, but is willing to extend that deadline if it improves the chance for students to experience Canadian hospitality.

Find more information, including online applications, on the program Web site, uwindsor.ca/isc/host.