Thanksgiving in Africa
I have spent all of my Thanksgivings with my family. We usually spent Thanksgiving at home but on occasion we went camping. I've never been away from my family on Thanksgiving...until this year. I didn't know what I was going to feel or how it would be for me. But I am living in a country that doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving...most Africans don't even know what Thanksgiving is...explaining it to them is not as easy as you'd think.
So I woke up Thanksgiving morning to a day that was just like any other work day. I did what I would normally do and continued with my day...business as usual. But throughout the day Jodie and I kept reminding each other of the significance of the day...that was nice. We'd talk about what everyone back home would be eating and what our favorite dishes are. We talked about fun Thanksgiving memories and things we are thankful for. It was nice.
For dinner we cooked beef stew and chapati. As we were finishing up cooking dinner the electricity went out. I thought about how the power going out makes this more an African Thanksgiving than ever...the power is usually out 3-5 days a week...sometimes more. So we ate our meal with the flashlights on.
Before we began eating the three of us each said what we were thankful for. We agreed that God has been good and we were thankful for His goodness these past months. We prayed and ate quietly. It was nice.
After dinner we called family in the U.S. to find out about the yummy dishes in preparation for the day (Africa is 11 hours ahead). I talked to my mom and she told me about the family members that were coming to her house for dinner. I was happy there was going to be a full house.
My mom said my brother Al would be taking pictures of the food and emailing them to me. :)
My Thanksgiving was different from the others but it was a good day. I am so thankful for so much.
So I woke up Thanksgiving morning to a day that was just like any other work day. I did what I would normally do and continued with my day...business as usual. But throughout the day Jodie and I kept reminding each other of the significance of the day...that was nice. We'd talk about what everyone back home would be eating and what our favorite dishes are. We talked about fun Thanksgiving memories and things we are thankful for. It was nice.
For dinner we cooked beef stew and chapati. As we were finishing up cooking dinner the electricity went out. I thought about how the power going out makes this more an African Thanksgiving than ever...the power is usually out 3-5 days a week...sometimes more. So we ate our meal with the flashlights on.
Before we began eating the three of us each said what we were thankful for. We agreed that God has been good and we were thankful for His goodness these past months. We prayed and ate quietly. It was nice.
After dinner we called family in the U.S. to find out about the yummy dishes in preparation for the day (Africa is 11 hours ahead). I talked to my mom and she told me about the family members that were coming to her house for dinner. I was happy there was going to be a full house.
My mom said my brother Al would be taking pictures of the food and emailing them to me. :)
My Thanksgiving was different from the others but it was a good day. I am so thankful for so much.
posted by Lydia | 1:39 AM
3 Comments:
I am glad you were able to make dinner before the power went out!! So you should send the recipe for chapati ;)
Jo
Lydia, the most difficult time for me was that first holiday away. I called my brother and cried right after saying hello. uuggh!
Tom and I noticed after the first year that the roads (to Manila especially) looked so familiar that it was like home. Everything got easier then. Of course, I am sure my accomodations here are much nicer than yours! I feel spoiled here. But it does not matter the situation when you are away from home on the holidays, does it? Or, maybe if I was in Singapore or Hawaii laying out on the beach with a cold drink all by myself with no kids and a good book? I guess that wouldn't be so bad :)
Love ya,
connie
Did Al send those pictures of the food yet? It didn't taste any different this year than it has in all those years past... so you didn't miss too much! : )
Freya
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