Happy Thanksgiving from teh Land of the Rising Sun

For only a second time in my short life I find myself without immediate family on Thanksgiving. That year a wonderful friend and I had Italian food before I took a train and got stuck in a Parisian subway station for a night. After calling home and talking to people I bawled only to be comforted by a security guard who told me I had to keep moving as it was too dangerous to sleep. Later I discovered I was in a remote section of Charles De Galle airport and slept in the airport area until I could resume subway and train travel.

This year has been harder to handle in some ways and easier in others. I am missing everyone back home so badly that I almost won’t be able to call… (I am sure I will, but just thinking about it is making me tear up)…Today’s good part included trying to introduce my kids to some of the “staples” of Thanksgiving food for many Americans. All of my classes were able to taste turkey for the very first time (deli-meat style) as well as pumpkin pie. My morning kids were given apple pie, rolls and green bean casserole to try also. It was a funny mixed reaction to some of the foods. Most of the kids wouldn’t try ANYTHING at first. Finally one tried and said turkey was good and everyone tried. Only a two didn’t really like it. The kindergarteners really weren’t into the pies and casseroles, except Billy who loved it al l and wanted seconds and tried for thirds. The nine year olds liked the pie better than the turkey and my ten year olds almost said no. the 12 year olds seemed to like pumpkin pie, but not apple sauce which they tried the night before for the first time.

Also I shared with the foreign teachers (a lunch time treat) and with the Korean teachers. It was pretty hilarious to watch them eating our “Thanksgiving” meal with chopsticks. And green beans are not really a Korean food and got mixed reviews. It was definitely hard to barley acknowledge Thanksgiving and was so weird that no one else really seemed to try to do anything. There will be a foreign bar doing a Thanksgiving style dinner this weekend for some of the community and obviously I did something, but why more didn’t I feel I shouldn’t be surprised over and I guess it is not surprise, but a lonely ennui-ed feeling without family and closer friends to enjoy time together with.