Although I have spent Thanksgiving away from home a number of times, I had never spent Thanksgiving outside of the United States. I must it admit it was strange and also a bit depressing to be in a country where the holiday is not celebrated at all. On Thanksgiving Day, I went to my school in Motilla del Palancar like pretty much any other day. The major difference was I talked about Thanksgiving with my students. In a couple of classes I taught my students how to make hand turkeys and talked with them about the things they were thankful for. The highlight was probably teaching them the "Happy Thanksgiving Song," which was an Open Sing classic at Washington Open Elementary School. In one of the classes, we talked extensively about what it meant to be thankful for something and why it was important to let the people around you know that you appreciate them. This was quite rewarding to know that these students went home knowing that Thanksgiving means more than eating lots of turkey.
I did not want to miss out on the Thanksgiving meal, so I decided to prepare one myself. For me, this was quite an undertaking because my culinary skills are quite limited. I wasn't able to find a turkey so I had to substitute it for a chicken. With the help of my Mom's recipes and the help of one of my roommates Salva, who actually knows what he's doing in the kitchen, I was able to produce a Thanksgiving feast. Not only was I able to make the food but it was actually believe it or not...good! I prepared the feast for my roommates and some of my friends here in Cuenca. A lot of them had never celebrated Thanksgiving (I'm the only American of the group), so it was very cool to share such a unique American tradition with them.
This is quite belated but Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!!! I am very thankful that I know everyone of you and that you are somehow part of my life!
And since it is December already...Happy Holidays as well!
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