作者：辛西娅·休伯特
这个感恩节，即使是在充满不确定性和动荡的一年里，珍妮·乌尔西诺（Jenine Ursino）也对很多事情心存感激。
在2019冠状病毒病（COVID-19）大流行加剧的背景下，对于博彩平台（萨克拉门托 State）最近毕业的乌尔西诺（Ursino）和大学社区的其他成员来说，2020年的假期将变得非常不同：许多人取消了看望远方亲戚的行程； 围坐在感恩节餐桌旁的人会越来越少； 庆祝活动将包括社交距离、口罩和其他保障措施。
尽管大流行采取了必要的预防措施，但感恩节的精神仍然在萨克州立大学的家庭中产生了共鸣。
杰妮·乌尔西诺（中间）和她的父母克莱尔（左）和乔恩（左）说，他们将庆祝感恩节，尽管遵守安全预防措施限制了他们的庆祝活动。 （图片由Jenine Ursino提供）“It would be nice to have the holidays as usual,” said Ursino, who graduated in May with bachelor’s degree in Political Science. Normally, her holiday meal would be part of a large gathering at the home of her fiancé’s parents. “But this year, everyone is staying home.”
她说，这是一个容易的决定。 Her parents, Claire and Jon Ursino, have medical conditions that make them particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, and several members of her fiancé Nathan Marschall’s family became sick after contracting the virus. 后来他们恢复了健康。
“We will cook a small Thanksgiving meal,” said Ursino, who has been looking for work and volunteering at a pet sanctuary during the pandemic. “But we are going to do everything possible to be safe.”
自3月份以来，萨克州立大学主要转向在线教育以抵御病毒，大学社区面临着前所未有的挑战。 条件迫使教师开发创新的方式来吸引学生。 学生的工作和实习机会减少了。 对许多人来说，平衡儿童保育、家庭教育和工作的斗争仍在继续。
萨克州立社区的成员在面对这些独特的条件时，继续反思节日和未来。
Physics Professor Kyle Watters hosted large crowds at 囊状态’s popular Planetarium before the virus shut it down. 然后，他的第一个孩子马修·罗兰·沃特斯（Matthew Roland Watters）早产了六周，在新生儿重症监护室呆了很长时间。 Matthew is healthy now and the center of his family’s life.
Marcellene Watson-Derbigny, with her husband, Philip Wayne Derbigny Jr., and sons, Philip, left, and Zion, says, “Together, with gratitude and love, we will find the true meaning in Thanksgiving.” （图片来源：Marcellene Watson-Derbigny）
Watters said 2020 “has been a difficult year that has brought many struggles and painful situations. 我们的长子也生在世上，我们也深深地爱着他。 It is clear that we have so much to be thankful for.”
今年，除了计划一个小型的家庭庆祝活动外，沃特斯和他的妻子劳拉（Laura）正在与萨克州立大学附近的弗里蒙特长老会（Fremont Presbyterian Church）合作，为有需要的大学生提供个人感恩节餐。
Amy Kautzman, dean and director of the University 图书馆, had hoped to start her holiday at the annual Run to Feed the Hungry charity event, then head to Reno “to be with our chosen family, hugging on kids and dear friends,” she said.
相反，她和她的配偶、政治学教授金·纳尔德（Kim Nalder）计划做一只火鸡和配菜，然后把食物送给那些不再能准备精致饭菜的老年朋友。
“It will be sad not to sit at the same table, but we adore (family) enough to wait a few more months,” Kautzman said. After dinner on Thursday, weather permitting, “we’ll join our neighbors, outdoors, for a glass of champagne and a slice of pie.”
Despite the unusual circumstances, “our sense of gratitude is still strong,” she said. “We wish health, housing, employment, and love to all.”
Donna Walters, a graduate student in 囊状态’s Masters of Business 政府 program, has faced her share of hardships this year. 一位祖父去世了，她的继父在摔倒后接受了紧急手术。 Walters’ daughter at times struggled with the switch to online learning.
Things are slowly improving, however, and Walters’ focus is on “little victories that push me forward,” she said. “I’m grateful for the strangers who lift me up with friendly conversations and acts of kindness; 感谢我的家人和我们在困难时期相互支持的能力； 献给那些公开爱我的朋友们。
“My only wish this holiday season is to have the ability to help others find their own peace, happiness, and forgiveness during this insanely challenging journey called 2020.”
对一些人来说，疫情带来了新的努力和新的前景。 Hakan Ozcelik, a professor of Management, has worked on 视频和其他项目帮助人们应对孤独和孤立 perpetuated by the virus.
“My only wish this holiday season is to have the ability to help others find their own peace, happiness, and forgiveness during this insanely challenging journey called 2020.”
Marcellene Watson-Derbigny, 囊状态’s associate vice president for Student Retention and Academic Success, finds that the circumstances have “caused my family to pause and reflect on what is truly important,” including health and emotional well-being. The pandemic “has brought life into perspective,” Watson-Derbigny said.
“It has ignited even greater creativity within me, as well as fortified my resolve to be resilient and positive,” she said.
沃森-德比尼说，她将在家里与直系亲属度过一个安静的假期。 “Together, with gratitude and love, we will find the true meaning in Thanksgiving.”
Anthony Sheppard是一名娱乐、公园和旅游管理教授，在感恩节期间，他将远离远在英国的家人。 Nonetheless, he counts himself “very lucky” that his relatives, though far away, are safe and well.
Sheppard’s wish for the holiday is that people “don’t let down their guard,” and that they protect themselves against the virus and consider “safely finding ways to help others” who are struggling. One option, he said, is 为联合学生公司（ASI）食品储藏室捐款 and other charities.
ASI主席诺亚·马蒂说，作为一名政治学专业的学生，他渴望与他人互动，喜欢在城市的活动中与人群混在一起。 马蒂说，疫情造成的隔离很困难。
Other than his roommates, his girlfriend and her family, “I pretty much haven’t seen anyone since March,” he said.
在一个典型的年份里，他会去看望他的母亲、妹妹和其他亲戚过感恩节。 但2020年绝非典型。
“The state of the pandemic has us making difficult decisions,” Marty said. “As of right now, we’re not sure what we’re going to do.”