Thanksgiving

It has been really fun discussing Thanksgiving traditions with my culture classes.  I especially emphasized gratitude and thankfulness.  They were awed at pictures of a thanksgiving feast.  Most of them have never tasted turkey and they would love me to make bake them a turkey dinner with pumpkin pie.  But it ain't gonna happen, especially in my toaster oven!  I tried pumpkin snicker doodles.  They were just ok.  But we enjoyed traditional pumpkin pancakes.  i’m seeing how far I can stretch my can of pumpkin that cost $5.00!

I also assigned my students to write or We Chat me about what they were grateful for.  Most are truly devoted to their parents and thankful for their upbringing, and the sacrifices and efforts their parents and some grandparents have made to get them this far at XJTU university.  There were truly some poignant stories.

Instead of me cooking,Annie and her hubby, the chef at the Italian restaurant, are willing to serve a thanksgiving dinner every night for a week.  So on Friday, November 20 we enjoyed homemade cream of mushroom soup, Cobb salad, turkey with blueberry sauce, a dab of potatoes and peas, spaghetti (?), and cheesecake with a peach and ice cream for dessert.  All of our BYU friends came too.

Then the following Wednesday, Thanksgiving eve, we invited Mr. And Mrs. Gao to join us for another round of the same dinner.  They brought along her brother and sis- in-law, who surprisingly spoke some English!  The Gaos speak no English besides “good morning, beautiful,” and our names.  We also included George, our translator friend, and John, the middle school teacher who made the initial phone call that brought us all together.  Everyone enjoyed the meal. First time they had ever eaten turkey.  The men especially cleaned up every bite on their plates. ( I had the foresight to ask for my pasta in a takeout container).

We felt very fortunate to be able to share this special occasion with Chinese people who have truly become our friends.  It made missing our family a little easier.  Friday morning we called Clark and Char’s house and talked to all of our children and spouses, and most of the grandchildren as they ran past a phone.  I walked to class with a happy heart that morning.

My gratitude list is greatly expanded this year, with some basics like clean water and sunshine.  I am especially grateful for our new friends, wonderful students, challenging and adventurous experiences, our LDS Branch, and the opportunity to reflect the light of the gospel in China.