Thanksgiving has traditionally been a time to go back home, eat turkey and spend quality time with family. But some prefer to celebrate the holiday in untraditional ways.

Matt Kahle, a marketing junior, has been traveling to his or a friend's vacation house in Paw Paw or Sturgis, Mich., since he was a freshman. He said it's tradition for his group of friends to celebrate together for a few days during Thanksgiving weekend.

Kahle and his friends are originally from the Chicago area, and each went to a different college after they graduated from high school. The Thanksgiving trip is a way for his friends to catch up on what everyone has been up to since they last met, as well as a chance to party together, he said.

The group of about 15-20 include the original friends from high school along with friends they've made at their colleges, Kahle said. Another tradition they have maintained is to go wakeboarding and waterskiing in the cold lake.

"It really creates a bond and gives everyone something to look forward to," Kahle said. "I was always really close with all of my friends from high school, and we're all different majors at different colleges. So it gives us a chance to meet up and talk about our lives and hang out."

Without this Thanksgiving tradition, Kahle said he might not still be close with his high school friends.

"A lot of people fall out with previous friends, but if everyone meets up together like we do and has a fun time, it keeps you strong and tight," Kahle said. "We'll keep doing this even beyond college, forever even."

Kahle said they have made their own tradition.

"I think most people still do a traditional Thanksgiving, but I use the holiday to meet up with people who are important to me in my life," Kahle said. "If I didn't see them, we wouldn't keep in touch. That's what I use the holiday for."

His family doesn't mind that Kahle spends time away from them during the holiday.

"I always go home and spend the first part with my family," he said. "My close friends are pretty much like my family, and all my family understands that we do this and supports us. I still love to spend time with my family."

Justin Ferguson, an advertising senior, and his wife Tamala, a psychology senior, decided not to drive home to Detroit because they don't have the time. But they still want to have a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, so they are planning to have their own celebration in their East Lansing apartment.

This is the first time they are going to cook such an elaborate meal by themselves. Justin Ferguson said his mom and Tamala's parents are driving to East Lansing for the day and having dinner at their home because it's easier for Justin and Tamala to plan. Usually the couple spends the holiday in Detroit.

His dad wasn't too happy about the idea and decided not to come, Justin Ferguson said. "He was against it. It took a little convincing for the other parents, but they finally gave in. We didn't give them another option."

"We're going to make the whole meal; we've never done that, but we're making everything," he said. "I've been looking up recipes on www.foodnetwork.com, and I'm going to make some sort of Thanksgiving-themed ice cream in my ice cream maker."

Justin Ferguson said they will not buy a ready-made turkey, even though they have never attempted to make one before.

Carolyn Crutchfield, an MSU alumna, is from Illinois and said she has never gone home for Thanksgiving because she works for Marshall Field's in their food division. She said she has "generally been scheduled to work for the 4 a.m. shift the day after Thanksgiving, not allowing me to see my family for the holidays."

She said she and her "fellow out-of-staters" and "retail workers" have started a tradition of their own for Thanksgiving day.

"We usually cook up our own version of the traditional meal and add our staple of Franzia boxed wine and 'Sex and the City' DVDs," Crutchfield said. "So what's better than a bunch of canned veggies, a Meijer rotisserie chicken, ding-dongs for dessert and the joy of boxed wine?"

Some students who are from out of state and don't have the time or money to go home for Thanksgiving are forced to stay in East Lansing during the holiday, but they don't have to sit at home doing nothing. Suzanne Eman-Jaehnig said volunteering is a great way for students to spend the day helping out people who don't have family.

Eman-Jaehnig is the senior associate director of the Capital Area United Way center, and she said the center is trying something new this year. It is partnering with five area nursing homes and retirement centers and sending volunteers to visit with the elderly and pass out food to those who don't have any family left to visit them, she said.

She said they have had many volunteers from MSU in the past, and people always think about volunteering during this time of year.

"The big thing is spending time with them so they're not alone on a holiday," Eman-Jaehnig said. "One of the nursing homes is having bingo, and we'll get volunteers to help out with that and volunteers can bring the residents little trinkets if they want."

To sign up to volunteer through the Capital Area United Way center, call (517) 337-8211.

Benita Mehta can be reached at mehtaben@msu.edu.