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Denton organization Global Interact held its annual American Thanksgiving for NT and TWU international students at the Denton Senior Center Sunday.

About 120 students from Thailand, Taiwan, South Korea, Malaysia, India, Mexico, Russia and South Africa munched on a traditional turkey dinner, many for the first time. Oscar Mendoza, Saltillo, Mexico graduate student said he admired the Thanksgiving holiday.

"It's a holiday that basically commemorates a good action or deed instead of a war and it can be enjoyed by all cultures," Mendoza said. " I enjoyed this experience most because of the culture and the food. There were four types of sweet potato. I tried all four."

Following the dinner, Denton parody band The Trammell Group performed. Dressed in green robes with giant red bows, members sang parodies of American-themed songs. "We're saluting life in America from consumerism to Thanksgiving," group leader Donna Trammell announced to the crowd.

TWU student Nadita Podkopova, Uzbekistan junior, said she found the whole event very interesting. "We don't have this tradition in Russia and it has been very informative to taste a turkey and pumpkin pie," Podkopova said. "I like everything and I think it's just perfect."

Global Interact formed in the mid '80s and is mostly comprised of Denton residents who have lived or traveled abroad. Each year it provides international students with a Thanksgiving Dinner and a traditional American picnic in the spring. Denton citizens and group members provide the money and food for the events.

Joe Roy, Global Interact vice-chair, said the group is interested in shaping relationships between the Denton community and international students.

"We do it all ourselves. We want them to have an American experience that they wouldn't normally have," Roy said. "Most of the members of our group have lived or traveled abroad and truly value the person-to-person interchange between various nationalities."

Students from Bluebonnet Elementary in Denton and Timbercreek Elementary in Lewisville made festive Thanksgiving placemats for the event.

Abdullah Zayed, Yemen freshman said he had never heard of Thanksgiving until recently and is looking forward to experiencing Christmas here.

"It is all very different," he said.

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