Thursday, November 25, 2004

Gobble Gobble

Happy Thanksgiving to all the Americans!

As my 12" diameter apple pie is baking in the oven (sweet potato already done), I take a moment to reflect on my Thanksgiving traditions here in Israel.

When I first arrived here, some 2.5 years ago, my friend Daniel (whom I met on the plane while moving here) and I, lacking family, gathered together a few friends. The rule was that each American had to bring a non-American with them. Daniel made the turkey, stuffing, stuffed mushrooms and we had it at his house. I made the sweet potatoes, cranberries, apple pie and green salad. There were 10 of us, since we hadn't made a ton of friend yet. We all went around the table and said what we were thankful for.

Last year, I had a brother and sister who had immigrated since the previous Thanksgiving. Daniel had his brother's family over. We each cooked the same things. We each still brought a non-American. We still said what we were thankful for. There were 16 of us.

This year, we have so many people coming that we have 2 turkeys! I have parents and basically my whole family here. Daniel just got engaged last week! So he's covered in the family and non-American category - his bride is British. I'll be bringing Chava, one of my new nursing school friends, and one of my few native Israeli friends. B. would have been the top contender for non-American (he's from Cape Town), but he's in Australia til Wednesday.

And when we go around the table, I will say this:

I am thankful for the insight I was given this year to see what was not great about my life, and the strength needed to make the changes to make myself a happier person.

Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy your turkey!

5 Comments:

Blogger Avi said...

Yum.. I miss Thanksgiving dearly. Hehe, you coulda invited me. j/k

So nice that your whole family made aliya. Think they can convince mine to come?

7:08 PM  
Blogger Lioness said...

B. is a perfect gentleman, smells good all the time AND has a South-African accent??? I think I may be a nit in love with him as well...

10:50 PM  
Blogger Noa said...

Avi - Chaval - Had I seen your comment before I got home from dinner, you would have been very much invited. You can come have leftover pie and turkey curry with us.

Lioness - Yup, I'm thinking I also may be a little bit in love with him. If I blog about him in the comments it doesn't violate my rules, right?

8:19 AM  
Blogger Gilly said...

I still haven't got my head round having fruit as a main course and vegetables for dessert - but when there's a turkey the size of a small child involved who cares?

Happy thanksgiving,

Gilly

1:50 PM  
Blogger ExpatEgghead said...

I never eat a Thanksgiving meal. I'll invite some friends for Christmas when we eat one as well.

6:32 PM  

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