In the last ten to fifteen years, I have not spent that many
Thanksgivings with my family in Ohio. Every couple of years I did the drive
home; otherwise, I celebrated with friends in New Jersey. This, however, was
the first time in my life that I was out of the country for Turkey Day. It was
also the first time in my life that I went to work! While I only stayed at
school for half the day, it certainly made me appreciate people that regularly
work on Thanksgiving year after year.
By mid-afternoon, I met up with four other volunteers in the
area, headed to a nearby guesthouse, and for the first time, I helped to
prepare a Thanksgiving dinner. Luckily, I got lots of recipes and suggestions
from friends and family back in the USA, as even the most basic items I (or any
of the others) had never cooked before last Thursday. We spent several hours in
the kitchen stuffing the turkey, mashing potatoes, boiling corn, and preparing
a host of additional side dishes and desserts that are found at a typical
Thanksgiving feast. The food was great…well, the food was edible, but the real
joy of the afternoon and evening was sharing a great time with the other
volunteers and sharing our American traditions with some new South African friends.
During the day, I also had a chance to think about what I am
most thankful for in my life right now…as most people do on Thanksgiving. My
list is the same as most years, but this year it seems to mean a little more. I
am certainly thankful to be here in South Africa serving with the Peace Corps.
But I am also very thankful that all my friends and family back in the US are
happy and healthy and able to keep in touch with me on a regular basis. It is
strange to think that if all goes according to plan, at this time next year, I
will still be here, perhaps even celebrating in a similar way.
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