Every year at this time I make the attempt to think about what Thanksgiving represents and all the things I should be thankful for. Surely enough thinking about being thankful only last a couple minutes, if that, before my mind wanders into the far more pressing issue of Thanksgiving dinner. Oddly enough it didn't quite work that way this year. But when you've spent months away from everything you've ever known, it's not surprising when you realize that even you are different.
Cooking Thanksgiving for my Gastfamilie was something I knew that I would do this year, partly because I could not deal with NOT having Thanksgiving and partly because it's an excuse to eat and that is internationally accepted as being good. As the date got closer though another reason , far more worthy, started to take precedent . I was genuinely thankful for everything that they have done and I needed an excuse , this time not to eat but to thank them lavishly without their objections. That is how I started the epic ordeal that was a Thanksgiving feast in Germany .
The first order of business was the Turkey since I was told by many Germans that this would be hard to find and because I am a prepared little exchange student I started my hunt a month early . I was quickly assured by my host-mother who is ,among many other things ,the God of everything kitchen that it would be no problem at all . A month later I was staring at the cold raw flesh of a 9.9 kilo turkey that I not so lovingly named The Cow. As if to deal with my frustration at it's grotesque size I smothered the entire seasoning cabinet and half of the garden on to its skin without forgetting of course a healthy amount of Sazon Completo that my mom sent me. To assure that people would not go hungry when the Cow came out raw or salty or dry or any combination of the above I enlisted the help of my host-sisters and host-mom to make an array of other Amerisch (not Amish but American/Deutsch made up word count #2 ) side dishes . By the time everything was on the table there was cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, carrots and peas, corn, some type of salad, and gravy. Cameron who ate with us brought wild rice and an amazing desert.
But that's enough talking about food, I have changed that much my mind still wandered to dinner :P . What was important was the people sitting around the table. I''m so thankful to have the most amazing support system here in Germany and that starts with the only people who really understand everything I'm going through, my fellow exchange students . Cameron and Deborah where there to share Thanksgiving together but I know that everyone else is only a WhatApp or Facebook message away . They have proved to be some of the absolute best people I have met in my life and I'm proud to be a part of such a wonderful group . I will inevitably be stalking all there Facebook's in the future to see where they all end up and If I'm ever in need of a partner in crime for my future international endeavors I know the group of people to ask.
Undoubtedly the thing I am most thankful for is my host-family, I could not ask for better people. They are completely different from my own family and in so many ways exactly alike . They have welcomed me into there house and helped me in anything I've needed even when I didn't ask. I can't hope to repay them completely for everything they've done but I try to everyday. At one point during dinner another host-father (Cameron's ) asked me what I liked the most in Germany I responded by saying it was a hard question since I liked everything but naturally what I liked the most was my host-family . Everyone laughed thinking it was cute but my host mother did something that re-affirmed that fact that this family couldn't be more perfect, she pretended to pay me for having said what I did . Little does she know that no money she could give me would be worth the experience they have helped me live .
This experience although largely influenced by the people above has included a lot more people but unfortunately even the Cow wasn't enough to feed them . Everyone who makes an effort to make my time here a little better from sharing a book to asking how my day is has made everyday worth it . So for all the people at school, in German class, at soccer, or handball or anywhere else I find myself frequenting Ich danke euch für Öffnung deine Arme und Leben zu einem verwirrten und manchmal verrückt Austauschschüler wie mich, weil auf du meine Zeit in Deutschland war unglaublich.
If a the Cow was not enough to thank all the people here than a Boeing 757 isn't enough to fly over all he people I have to thank across the world.
My family first and foremost not only for keeping the money flowing so I can satisfy my chocolate craving and winter clothes necessity but because I've realized all the things you did that my mind simply glazed over before . Being here I notice everything my host-parents do for us and looking back I realize that my own parents have done the same all their lives, thank you. You have all been so supportive even though I know you would love to talk to me more often or would appreciate a couple more pictures on Facebook I know you hold back complaining because you understand what's best for me . I appreciate your unconditional smiles despite thinking at times that I may go crazy any second, and I appreciate even more that you have learned to let me find my own limits.
To my friends back home, I appreciate those of you who have kept up with me despite what In know are your very busy schedules. It makes my day to see your smiling sleep deprived faces who took a minute to procrastinate and talk to me about everything going on back home.
Lastly I have to thank something that is more abstract but is present in my everyday life and feels as real as any person . I want to thank my country I'm so proud to be an American and I'm so proud to be here representing what we are about.
But it took me being on the other side of the world to realize all this, so here I am having celebrated Thanksgiving since I was 3 and only now truly realizing its meaning. Not a Thanksgiving will go by without remembering what it was I learned this year .
Cooking Thanksgiving for my Gastfamilie was something I knew that I would do this year, partly because I could not deal with NOT having Thanksgiving and partly because it's an excuse to eat and that is internationally accepted as being good. As the date got closer though another reason , far more worthy, started to take precedent . I was genuinely thankful for everything that they have done and I needed an excuse , this time not to eat but to thank them lavishly without their objections. That is how I started the epic ordeal that was a Thanksgiving feast in Germany .
The first order of business was the Turkey since I was told by many Germans that this would be hard to find and because I am a prepared little exchange student I started my hunt a month early . I was quickly assured by my host-mother who is ,among many other things ,the God of everything kitchen that it would be no problem at all . A month later I was staring at the cold raw flesh of a 9.9 kilo turkey that I not so lovingly named The Cow. As if to deal with my frustration at it's grotesque size I smothered the entire seasoning cabinet and half of the garden on to its skin without forgetting of course a healthy amount of Sazon Completo that my mom sent me. To assure that people would not go hungry when the Cow came out raw or salty or dry or any combination of the above I enlisted the help of my host-sisters and host-mom to make an array of other Amerisch (not Amish but American/Deutsch made up word count #2 ) side dishes . By the time everything was on the table there was cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, carrots and peas, corn, some type of salad, and gravy. Cameron who ate with us brought wild rice and an amazing desert.
But that's enough talking about food, I have changed that much my mind still wandered to dinner :P . What was important was the people sitting around the table. I''m so thankful to have the most amazing support system here in Germany and that starts with the only people who really understand everything I'm going through, my fellow exchange students . Cameron and Deborah where there to share Thanksgiving together but I know that everyone else is only a WhatApp or Facebook message away . They have proved to be some of the absolute best people I have met in my life and I'm proud to be a part of such a wonderful group . I will inevitably be stalking all there Facebook's in the future to see where they all end up and If I'm ever in need of a partner in crime for my future international endeavors I know the group of people to ask.
Undoubtedly the thing I am most thankful for is my host-family, I could not ask for better people. They are completely different from my own family and in so many ways exactly alike . They have welcomed me into there house and helped me in anything I've needed even when I didn't ask. I can't hope to repay them completely for everything they've done but I try to everyday. At one point during dinner another host-father (Cameron's ) asked me what I liked the most in Germany I responded by saying it was a hard question since I liked everything but naturally what I liked the most was my host-family . Everyone laughed thinking it was cute but my host mother did something that re-affirmed that fact that this family couldn't be more perfect, she pretended to pay me for having said what I did . Little does she know that no money she could give me would be worth the experience they have helped me live .
This experience although largely influenced by the people above has included a lot more people but unfortunately even the Cow wasn't enough to feed them . Everyone who makes an effort to make my time here a little better from sharing a book to asking how my day is has made everyday worth it . So for all the people at school, in German class, at soccer, or handball or anywhere else I find myself frequenting Ich danke euch für Öffnung deine Arme und Leben zu einem verwirrten und manchmal verrückt Austauschschüler wie mich, weil auf du meine Zeit in Deutschland war unglaublich.
If a the Cow was not enough to thank all the people here than a Boeing 757 isn't enough to fly over all he people I have to thank across the world.
My family first and foremost not only for keeping the money flowing so I can satisfy my chocolate craving and winter clothes necessity but because I've realized all the things you did that my mind simply glazed over before . Being here I notice everything my host-parents do for us and looking back I realize that my own parents have done the same all their lives, thank you. You have all been so supportive even though I know you would love to talk to me more often or would appreciate a couple more pictures on Facebook I know you hold back complaining because you understand what's best for me . I appreciate your unconditional smiles despite thinking at times that I may go crazy any second, and I appreciate even more that you have learned to let me find my own limits.
To my friends back home, I appreciate those of you who have kept up with me despite what In know are your very busy schedules. It makes my day to see your smiling sleep deprived faces who took a minute to procrastinate and talk to me about everything going on back home.
Lastly I have to thank something that is more abstract but is present in my everyday life and feels as real as any person . I want to thank my country I'm so proud to be an American and I'm so proud to be here representing what we are about.
But it took me being on the other side of the world to realize all this, so here I am having celebrated Thanksgiving since I was 3 and only now truly realizing its meaning. Not a Thanksgiving will go by without remembering what it was I learned this year .
The Cow : Before
The Cow : After
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