Thanksgiving is just a normal day in the Netherlands, so I have a few hours of lecture and a few hours of homework before I can start the gluttony, but I saw a bunch of gratitude posts on Facebook and wanted to jump on the bandwagon.
Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday. At UMW, I could usually expect to have at least three Thanksgiving dinners – Seaco Thanksgiving in the dining hall with the fencers, the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship potluck thanks to the talented cooks at my church, and of course at home with my family and neighbors. (Plus sometimes ThanksGayving with PRISM!) This year it’s just me and a couple of European friends who I have roped into it, who I don’t think quite understand my enthusiasm but who are gamely going along with it regardless. To be honest it’s making me pretty homesick, but Christmas break is just around the corner, and I definitely have enough to keep me busy until then!
So, a short and incomplete list of what I’m grateful for this Thanksgiving:
First, this surreal thing where I get to live in the Netherlands for a year, and all the lovely people here (mostly Dutch, but some fellow international students as well) who have helped me get settled in. Particular shout-outs to Nikita and Lisanne, who endlessly tolerate my American-isms. Also particular shout-out to the clock towers and whoever it is who makes them play beautiful music at completely unpredictable times, for the random reminders that this place I get to live is really kind of magical sometimes.
Second, my family and friends at home, for all the support and skype chats at weird times because timezones to keep me in the loop while I’m away. (When I say weird times I am specifically looking at you, Leah!) I miss you all tons, and I can’t wait to see you at Christmas!
Third, a thing I’ve been thinking about lately: I’m really grateful to my professors at UMW. I keep expecting to run into trouble here, because the academic standards and expectations are significantly different from at home, but I seem to have landed on my feet and haven’t had any real trouble with assignments. I can only attribute this to the fact that I had an amazing school that somehow miraculously prepared me for academic work on a different continent.