The family of Dalton State College student Krystal Tee Au Yuik, right, traveled from Malaysia to spend Christmas with her. They are her mom Chow Tzy Woon, left; dad, Raymond Tee, front; and brother Adam Tee.

DALTON, Ga. — When Krystal Tee Au Yuik arrived in Dalton from Malaysia three and a half years ago, she was only supposed to stay a year. But now, she calls the city home.

“The Rotary Club has scholarships, and Georgia has the Georgia Rotary Student Program that brings students from around the world to study for a year at Georgia colleges and universities,” she said. “I was at church when a Rotary member told me about their scholarships and encouraged me to apply. I applied for the scholarship and got it, and I was sent to Dalton State College. I got the scholarship in 2013, and I came to Dalton State in August 2013. I was supposed to go home in May 2014. But I loved it so much in Dalton, I said, ‘I love it here. I’m going to do whatever I can to stay.'”

Krystal says the Rotary Club of Dalton has helped her tremendously during her time in Dalton.

“They’ve had a big impact on me,” she said.

Thanks to continuing scholarships, Krystal was able to stay, and she recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. But Krystal’s extended stay has meant that she missed Christmas with her family for the past three years.

“I was able to get home last summer for a short visit. That was the first time I saw my family in two years, but I haven’t been home for Christmas,” she said.

But this year she’ll be able to spend Christmas with her family without leaving Dalton, as her father Raymond Tee, mother Chow Tzy Woon and brother Adam Tee have been able to come to Dalton to spend the holiday with her as well as to see her recent graduation ceremony.

“I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “We are not a very high-income family, and we didn’t think they would be able to come here. We didn’t think we could afford it. A ticket for one person costs $2,000. But the (Carpet City) Rotary Club stepped up and offered to help with the airfare. We couldn’t have done it without them. They got the tickets in April, and the anticipation was so great. This is the moment I’ve been waiting on for months.”

They arrived on Dec. 12 and will be returning on Dec. 28.

Krystal says she’s happy to be spending time with her family, but she says it’s especially meaningful that it’s taking place at Christmas.

“It’s meant to be a happy time, a time you spend with your family,” she said. “And this year, I’m spending Christmas with my family. I’m graduating. It’s such a blessing.”

Krystal says being so far away from her family is difficult.

“It’s always difficult. It’s difficult when you want to talk to them, but they are 12 hours ahead, so you have to wait until they wake up to call them,” she said. “I remember one day I was really stressed out. I had to retake high school in two weeks because I didn’t have enough credits. I called my mom, but the connection was terrible. It was frustrating to be so far away, but the people in Dalton have made it so easy. My host family took me in and treated me like their own and gave me all the support they could.”

Her father said it was difficult being separated but he’s glad she is pursuing her dream.

“I was happy for her. I knew she wanted to do this, so I was happy that she was able to stay and finish college here,” said Raymond.

In the days leading up to Christmas, Krystal has been showing her family around Dalton and Dalton State College.

Her brother Adam is a golfer and was particularly impressed by The Farm golf course.

“The course is so beautiful,” he said.

Krystal says Christmas is a big holiday in Malaysia but it’s celebrated differently than in the United States. She says her family typically celebrates the holiday by going to church on Christmas Day.

“We don’t do as much decorating,” she said. “We did have a Christmas tree once.”

On Christmas Day, they plan to spend time with Krystal’s host family.

“Amy Grammer is my host mom, so we’ll be spending time with her family, watching them open presents,” Krystal said. “It will be their (her family’s) first time seeing an actual American Christmas.”

Krystal says she hopes to stay on in Dalton.

“I’m working on it. I’ve got my fingers crossed. This community has been so great to me. I’d like to stay here or in this general area, and get a job,” she said.