This post was meant to go live on Thanksgiving Thursday, but unfortunately, life did not go as planned. Electricity and internet went out. My first priority was turkey cooking and finding a working oven. The feast was delicious and the community so fun. Keep reading and see pictures!
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If you’re like me and you enjoy traveling or living in another country (or even just another state), I imagine you’ve spent one or more holidays away from your family, hometown, or even country.
Chances are you’ve already indulged in your turkey and green bean casserole followed up by pumpkin pie or like me you’re still gearing up for the feast. I am about to serve up my first turkey (that I’ve ever been in fully charge of). I’m six hours ahead of you all who sit squarely in the Eastern Standard Time zone (so it’s noon there and 6 pm in Austria).
Two weeks ago, I thought I’d be fine not having turkey, stuffing, or pumpkin pie. Yeah, I was wrong. A week ago, I suddenly realized that even though Austria doesn’t celebrate Thanksgiving that I wanted to celebrate this American holiday anyway.
In a country that has become so familiar, I still feel like a stranger most days, knowing that if I so much as open my mouth, all will know I’m not from here. Growing up homeschooled but attending public school for various activities (mostly music and band things), I accustomed myself to the cry, “She doesn’t even go here!” I’m used to being the odd one, the weird one…the one who doesn’t fit in. I’m sure you all have similar memories because one thing I’ve learned is that we’re not alone in even our strangest feelings.
There is freedom in being the odd one. People accept that you’re just going to do things differently, weirdly, and strangely.
I mean, I guess I could be having pancakes for my Thanksgiving, or Chinese food, or Austrian food. Does it really matter? Anyway, we all know that Thanksgiving is about being thankful and being with family.
But if you can’t be with family….and if you still have to work…and you can’t find celery at the nearest grocery…
It feels off.
Cooking is a million times more challenging when all the ingredients are in another language, but I guess it’s helpful that my ingredients are still using an alphabet that I’m familiar with. And gosh, I’m thankful for my eyes so I can recognize ingredients even if I can’t read the label!
Perhaps Austria doesn’t celebrate Thanksgiving like I think it should be celebrated because it doesn’t exist here, but it’s fun to share this holiday with colleagues and friends. It’s the perfect clash of cultures as we learn more about each other by sharing our holidays, foods, and traditions. I’ll have a Brit, Scot/Dane, Slovak, Estonian, and Swiss at my Thanksgiving table among all the Americans this year (I know! I should have some Austrians, but I won’t sadly). Everyone appreciates good food and fun fellowship.
Tips for a good Thanksgiving (maybe next year?) in another Country
- Make friends with people at the UN.
- Ask a visitor from home to bring you that one special ingredient (canned pumpkin)
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