Il Giorno del Ringraziamento

That's Thanksgiving Day, for you English-speakers.

Welcome to the second most bittersweet time of year for Intercultura (July takes the cake of course). It's a little strange to see Christmas decorations coming around and all my American Facebookers buzzin' with Thanksgiving plans to return home. But I'm here.... which means not with my family. But at the same time, I'm with my new family. It's a catch-22 and I'm trying to balance these emotions without feeling too much like a crazy.

I didn't even think anything about Thanksgiving until Federico said to me, "So Nat, when are you cookin' for us?" Since it's an American holiday, it didn't even cross my mind to do something here. However, what is important to me is important to them. So here we go, it's Friday night and I'm making quite the feast. Chicken, stuffin' muffins, apple pie, pasta, omnomnomnom.... remember how well I cook? Of course you don't because I never do it. That's what parents and/or microwaves are for! I have literally burnt quesadillas and ruined PB&J's in my day. Carla clearly needed to point out, "You don't do this very much, do you?" Lots of creativity and invention was involved. 

As a matter of fact, it was quite delicious and I was quite the proud cook. Don't know about the rest of you American folks, but the Miranda Thanksgiving requires each of its participants to talk about what we are thankful for before the omnoms can begin. I made the point to explain that I was not only thankful to be here and to be with them, but also that I was lucky enough not just to consider them as the people I live with. I feel home; this is my second family.

Gloria, Elena, Irene, Alice, Ylenia

My third family also treated me like quite the princess for Thanksgiving. Ylenia, a school friend, asked me what I do for Thanksgiving with my family and before I knew it our friends and her sister had planned an entire feast for me! Potatoes, turkey, gravy, cranberry sauce, corn, carrots, apple pie, roasted chestnuts, coffee, etc... I really had it all. Getting to her house around noon on Sunday, I walked in and recognized the smells and the sounds of happiness that could have been mistaken for a true American Thanksgiving.

At dinner, I explained to them how terrifying/crazy the idea of Intercultura can seem. Here I am, just doin' mah thing, livin' mah life, happy as a clam.... without my friends or family in a different country with a different language. I'm lucky to be here; I'm lucky to be happy to be here. I think my friends are a big part of that - I scored them all by myself and they love the little part of me they know. That's somethin' special... something really, really cool.

Just a mom and a sister being the greatest cooks! 

They ate like CHAMPIONS and I couldn't be prouder! Everything was delicious and I was stuffed for days. We had music and laughs and charades and TV and and fireplaces and each other. That's what Thanksgiving's all about, right? Just being with people that make you happy, realizing how lucky we are to have food on our plates and a roof over our heads, it's as simple as that.

And hey, as you continue to stalk these sweet Thanksgiving pics.... please notice the sweet touch of all the decorations they drew for me around the house. How am I so loved?! 

yo Yle we're not ready to eat yet... 

kisses & songs & love & fun 

"If I hold this spoon, does it look like I helped?"  

The Beautiful Chef :) 

Someone's ready to eat... 

But now it's time to get down to business (Nevin cousins - "...to defeat the Huns"). My Thanksgiving(s) was (were) so unique this year. I loved every minute of it! But it was so weird to wake up on the real Thanksgiving day and not eat my French Toast, stay in my pajamas and essentially play Tetris with all the bodies trying to nap on the Miranda couch. I can only fake so many Thanksgivings until I feel the need to experience a real one... aka with my four favorites. So here I am, a Thursday night, waiting for my family Skype date. It's the first time everyone has been together since that September departure date... so it's safe to say I'm feeling a little strange. Bittersweet? Nostalgic? Jealous? Grown up? Alone? Whatever, man. It is what it is. I promise this passed quickly!

And so I watched them eat after we gave our thanks and shared some love. We have had quite the year, quite the life! We are lucky people. Lucky to be alive, in good health (heyo Raymond!), pursuing each of our goals, happy with our lives and each other. Is it not 'tis the season to be grateful? Don't lose that glow - count your blessings every day, not just went the American calendar tells you to. 

ALL THE LOVE I COULD EVER NEED!