I was lucky enough to celebrate Thanksgiving twice this year, the first time was with a rotary club in Martin (which is about one hour away from me). That day was very interesting—as I traveled there by train so I could get there early enough to help prepare the dinner. When I arrived, my ride to the hotel did not show up, so I walked for two and a half hours in 4 degree (Celsius) weather. Apple maps kept insisting it was a good idea to walk on the freeway for roughly a mile, but I thought it was best (certainly safer) to ignore it and cut my way through an industrial complex and abandoned rail yard.
Eventually I arrived and immediately was out to work cooking, and later setting tables and decorations. The dinner itself was wonderful, and the turkey was bigger than my entire upper body! Admittedly, the dishes weren’t particularly traditional but that didn’t matter. We (the exchange students) were broadcast on Slovak news as we gave our speeches in Slovak.
Then, on Saturday, I travelled to Trenčín to meet up at a local church that was hosting its own thanksgiving celebration. The dinner was organized by an American couple that have been living in Trenčín and organizing English language camps for the church. The evening was quite wonderful and I quickly became friends with a number of Slovaks in attendance and hope to return soon.
Thanksgiving was never my favorite holiday growing up, because I’m not a big fan of turkey and you don’t get presents (that can be a dealbreaker for a little kid), but this year, as I’ve been away from my family and friends I obtained a deep appreciation for what it stands for. I found myself thinking about how thankful I am to everyone who’s played a part in my life. First and foremost my parents, they’re always there for me, (whether I need a kick in the ass or a hug) and are endlessly supportive. My siblings, whom I miss dearly and can’t wait to see them again. The relationships I’ve had that have helped show me how to learn from my mistakes. My friends, back home, but also the ones I’ve made here. I likely wouldn’t have made the decision to become an exchange student if I hadn’t had a handful of amazing teachers who pushed me to believe in what I’m capable of, as well as my experiences in band, choir, and theatre programs. I would not be who I am today without any one of these people or experiences; I have so much to be thankful for, so much that I don’t know how to properly show my gratitude.
To close off this semi-incoherent rant, I just want to say that I may still not like turkey, but I sure as hell love thanksgiving.