There's a big map of the world when you walk through the entryway of Gail Hendershot's home.

"It's a reminder to us of the bigger picture, for how small our world is and how we're all a part of it," she said.

The map is peppered with about 15 stickers spread across different countries.

"We have each guest put a sticker on the country where they come from," she said. "When they come here they get to see where other students have come from."

"They" are Penn State international students.

There's room for 10 people at Hendershot's table for Thanksgiving dinner, so Hendershot, a State College resident, and her family are hosting international students who have no place to go.

The Hendershot family has been part of the International Friendship Program, one of the programs offered by the International Hospitality Council, since they moved to State College three years ago.

"When we moved to Pennsylvania we didn't have any family, so we called Penn State and asked if there were any students who didn't have anywhere to go for Thanksgiving, and that we would be happy to have them," Hendershot said.

Polly Dunn, coordinator of the International Friendship Program, has been working with the program for the last five years, finding hosts for international students at Penn State.

"It is a way of welcoming international students to the area," she said.

One of Dunn's jobs is to find families who are willing to host international students for Thanksgiving dinner.

"Most of the international students have hosts who I've matched them with in the community," she said. "If they're not going to have them for a meal, I ask them if they'll like to join another family."

In past years, Dunn has assigned around 10 to 15 students to host families.

"We don't get a whole lot of students," she said. "A lot of international students make plans to go to Boston or New York, for example."

Anyi Chen (graduate-industrial engineering) of Taiwan has been in the United States for two years. Last year she went to New York City with one of her friends for Thanksgiving break, but this year she is staying in State College.

"I'm excited because I've never had dinner with an American family before," she said.

Hendershot is hosting a Pakistani family this year for Thanksgiving.

"It's been a real joy for us," she said. "International students are really excited to be in an American home."

Chu Baojin (graduate-materials) and his wife, both from China, will be having Thanksgiving dinner with a host family. Baojin has been in State College for a year and half, but his wife came here in September.

"When my wife came here she joined the International Friendship Program, and it introduced our family to another family," he said. "I think it's a good thing -- at least we get a chance to know some of the American culture."

Hendershot particularly remembered a woman from Korea who joined her family for Thanksgiving dinner. She was touched to be able to have dinner in a home, with a family, Hendershot said. She appreciated the gesture so much that she said she would be a host for people who travel upon her return home.

"We don't do anything fancy," Hendershot said. "We're a very moderate home -- we don't have a lot of fancy things. What we have is genuine and we hope that's what they leave with."