Today is, of course, Thanksgiving. I think this year is the closest I will ever feel to how the Pilgrims felt all those years ago at the first Thanksgiving. They were far from home, in a land different from their own, having to communicate with people from a different culture with a different language, they had strange foods, they missed their family and friends.
Today is a day where we traditionally give thanks in preparation for one of the greediest holiday traditions in the world: Black Friday. Instead of ranting about the irony of the situation, I've decided to take some time to really think about the past year and what I'm most thankful for. Below I'll be listing those things:
1. It is the end of week 10 here, which means I'm just over 1/4 of the way through this experience.
2. Tonight we get "real" food (aka not food from the comedor)
3. My parents were able to help me with this trip financially.
4. My church family has helped me financially.
5. I have a fan to help keep me cool in my dorm room.
6. My roommates are going home in two weeks.
7. I get to go see some really cool things over my Christmas break.
8. My sister is awesome
9. My friends back home have been supportive and encouraging about this experience.
10. I'm learning something while I'm here :)
11. I don't have to deal with snow for another year.
12. The internet is faster than I thought it was going to be.
13. I don't have to write any papers.
14. Besides Folklore, my classes are not that hard (except for them being in another language)
15. I know that I have mail coming my way soon.
16. The update from Skype has made it easier for me to talk with people while being in my dorm.
17. I'll hopefully be getting my actually computer over the Christmas break.
18. I have 2 weeks until break left.
19. Most of my finals shouldnt be over much new information (except Folklore of course)
20. I haven't broken anything (a kid here broke his foot)
21. The stray dog leave me alone
22. The really tough semesters I had over the past year prepared me for this.
23. My sister is taking care of my fish for me :-)
24. Tabasco sauce.
25. Although I'm writing this last, it is the most important: God knew this year was the year I needed to be gone, not last year. I'm thankful the pieces didnt fall together just right two years ago for me to have been gone last year. It all worked out. :-)
Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
