Wednesday, November 26, 2014

This is Home

Tonight I left work a little early and headed to the big supermarket in Clapham Junction to get the last remaining items for my contribution to for Thanksgiving Dinner tomorrow.

Last year I hosted the event for about 20 people in my tiny city-sized flat and despite the lack of seats or a table (which had to be removed to fit more bodies) we had a great time. And I swore I’d never do it again! My whole body ached from lifting the 17 pound turkey in and out of the oven every 10 minutes to bask it because I’d turned it into flames (actual flames in my oven) in the first five minutes of cooking and was terrified of ruining it and subsequently the day for everyone coming. (And I don’t even like turkey!)

This year the sympathy for putting on the special day goes to an American friend whose taken on the task of feeding 18 of her closest friends and American “stragglers” and I am thankful for her! I’m providing a double batch of Mac and Cheese and Buckeyes as a dessert nibble. I made the long (ok, 15 minutes by bus but its out of the way) trek to Junction in search of Monterrey Jack cheese at the only place I thought I might be able to find it. Wrong again – Monterrey Jack does not exist in this country – even at the British Wal-Mart!

Still the trip proved to be quite entertaining as I observed other Americans in the same “last minute Thanksgiving Day” shopping panic as me! Armed with long lists and full buggies, I watched, as they’d pick up a possible substitute to the particular item they were looking for and contemplate; Pick up the item. “Is this ok?” Put down the item. Google it. Pick it up a different item. Put it down. Pick up the first item again. A simple headshake which clearly means, “guess we’ll see” and into the buggy it goes!

And I wasn’t the only one to notice the behavior …

Conversation # 1: Large British man to confused American woman

Brit: “Getting ready for Christmas dinner?”
Woman: “Oh no! This is for Thanksgiving … I hope…”

Conversation # 2: American wife to British husband

Wife: “I think this is what we need. Is this what we need?”
Hubby just shrugs: “I don’t know what its for”
Wife: “Ok flour. Which one? I think it’s this one … “ and picks up largest bag of flour
Hubby: “Just get a small one – wait – what’s it for?”
Wife: “Ok small. It’s just for the gravy, I think. Lets go over the list. Cranberries – check. Flour – check … “

As I walked out of earshot of the conversation I couldn’t help but smile. This year I don’t feel like I’m the only one preparing for Thanksgiving in a far away land. We’re all in this together!

On Sunday, we had our first Thanksgiving with my oldest London friend and her partner. The two of us reminisced about our first Thanksgiving here in 2010. It was so hard, many tears and a few too many bottles of wine! We giggled at the old dramatic versions of ourselves and praised each other at how far we’ve come.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and I’m typically homesick around this time of year, but this year has been different. This year, despite current struggles, I feel settled. Most importantly, this year I’m thankful because I’ve realized where ever I am, I can and will make it my home.