Waking up on my first ever Thanksgiving away from home. I can just imagine waking up in my bed at my parent's house, able to hear my mom's honkytonk from the kitchen upstairs, my dad's football game, my sister's telling them an outrageous story in an equally outrageous voice. My little B is lounging on his bed texting and snuggling the sweetest dog in the world. It's 9 am but holidays mean mimosas with breakfast. Everyone is still in their pajamas, but within a few hours we are cleaned up pretty nice, a beautiful table is set with antique depression glass and unmatched cloth napkins. Our modest multiple use living/dining room is crowded with family, friends, great food, and most of all love.
In reality, I am waking up halfway across the world, and even though I miss home more than anything, I am so, so grateful to have been given this opportunity to travel abroad, thanks to the unbelievable kindness of strangers (and a little bit of my own elbow grease). And even though I'm not lounging around the house all day with my real family, I imagine we have cobbled together a comfortable sort of ragtag, multi-cultural, bilingual family over here, and that's almost as good :)
Imaginary cheers to my family and friends back home, my "family" and friends here in Aix, all the Americans in America, and all my DU friends scattered around the globe right now in the same boat. I wish I could follow through with at least one holiday tradition, but since Thanksgiving doesn't really exist in France, I still have school which means mimosas are a no-no at 10 am.
In reality, I am waking up halfway across the world, and even though I miss home more than anything, I am so, so grateful to have been given this opportunity to travel abroad, thanks to the unbelievable kindness of strangers (and a little bit of my own elbow grease). And even though I'm not lounging around the house all day with my real family, I imagine we have cobbled together a comfortable sort of ragtag, multi-cultural, bilingual family over here, and that's almost as good :)
Imaginary cheers to my family and friends back home, my "family" and friends here in Aix, all the Americans in America, and all my DU friends scattered around the globe right now in the same boat. I wish I could follow through with at least one holiday tradition, but since Thanksgiving doesn't really exist in France, I still have school which means mimosas are a no-no at 10 am.
PS it just occurred to me that by calling Thanksgiving "Turkey Day," and thereby removing the "thanks," we are removing any semblance of honor from a holiday with sketchy (at best) origins and gluttonous traditions in a world where gluttony is a luxury. But whatever. Happy today. :)