Do you sing songs?

I have just gotten home from a fabulous Thanksgiving lunch at the Cambridge Graduate Center, and I am feeling (you guessed it) thankful for being able to celebrate this all-American holiday in a very non-American way. Matthew and I gathered around a delightfully festive table with our friends (who unexpectedly joined us.) Stephen (from Scotland), Victor (from France), Alberto (from Italy), and Daniel (who we met at the lunch, from Washington, D.C.).

Matthew is doing "No-shave November" but plans on shaving tomorrow... I think it makes him look older, which makes me look even younger. And you can't see it in this picture, but we got awesome Cambridge "badges" or pins. I wore mine on my cardigan, thus feeling I had been initiated into the Cambridge collegiate community.

So fancy! Wine and leaves and a sparkly centerpiece! I enjoyed it.

As always, I felt awkward asking if I could take a picture of everyone sitting at the table, so I played it cool and didn't. I guess I'm going to have to get over that because I'm sure anyone that reads this would love to be visually introduced to our new friends. We are quite a group. Anyway, after a very sweet blessing of the meal from Alberto, we were served a gussied-up version of some Thanksgiving classics. Turkey, potatoes, cranberry sauce, veggies, pumpkin and apple pie. The works. Although I was starving, I did remember to take a picture of the plate as it was put in front of me. Unfortunately, I did not take another one after I piled on the side dishes. But, you get the idea.

The circle was the dressing and was by far my favorite part. Second favorite part was the pumpkin pie. Ok, maybe they were tied for first.

Bacon-rolled sausage? I suppose that was the English contribution to the menu. That and the tea served with the coffee at the end of the lunch. Americans do love to put bacon on practically everything, though. Maybe it was some sort of goodwill gesture. I don't know. So, as we were enthusiastically stuffing our faces, Stephen was asking us what happens during Thanksgiving meals in the States. In his thoroughly charming Scottish accent he asked if we sing Thanksgiving-themed songs. I thought that was hysterical! But I mean, it's not that weird to ask. We have Christmas carols, why not have Thanksgiving ones? Victor jokingly wanted to know if we were celebrating because the Indians fed corn to the British pilgrims. Alberto noted that we were eating focaccia bread, which obviously originated in the US. I can't remember who then sarcastically mentioned that the Europeans don't need a day to give thanks for everything they have because they are so constantly grateful on a daily basis. They were not mocking our holiday by any means, but it just struck me how unique to America this holiday is. For us, it is completely normal. To anyone who was not raised in the land of the free and the home of the brave, it is a strange concept. I find it fascinating because I realize how many things have seemed so novel to me over the past couple of months that are mundanely commonplace to everyone else. This is one of the reasons I love Cambridge - normal is different for each person, and I am learning to appreciate viewpoints that occupy every position from one end of the spectrum to the other.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University stood and had some very thoughtful remarks for the students, specifically the Americans, who are celebrating this holiday away from home. He hoped that we would find that we had been welcomed into the Cambridge family and were not missing home too much. I thought he was incredibly warm and sentimental. (Don't worry, I didn't cry this time.)

Apparently there are approximately 600 American students currently studying here, and I'd say that at least a third of them were at this lunch. It was actually very odd for my ears to hear American English coming from the majority of mouths. I guess I have grown more accustomed to the British vocabulary and inflection than I thought. Little phrases have been added to my own manner of speaking, but if I tried an imitation accent, I would still not pass as a local.

Well, tonight Matthew and I have a Skype date with my side of the family. As they are sitting down to lunch around 1:00pm Okie Time, we will be sitting down to dinner around 7:00pm Greenwich Mean Time. We are eating leftovers of the steak pie that I made mostly from scratch yesterday. Only took like 5 hours. (Not the prettiest thing, but I think I scored some serious wife points based on the taste.)

Yummy for my tummy. Crummy for my stress level. I genuinely do not like cooking by myself. Especially when I do not have functional knives or bakeware. Ahh the boxes of wedding gift kitchen gadgets that are just waiting for our return to the US.

I am looking forward to seeing everyone's smiling faces. It should be an experience. I am really anxiously awaiting the chance to see my Mimi and Papa because I haven't actually seen them since before we left. We have only emailed back and forth. I am awestruck when I think of how this type of communication would not have even been a far-fetched idea when my grandparents were my age. In fact, not even when my parents were my age! Thank the good Lord for the advancements of technology. They have temporarily cured my homesickness on many occasions.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

All of my life. In every season. You are still God. I have a reason to sing. I have a reason to worship. Whether in the US or England. Surrounded by family or brand new friends. Highs in the 60s with mostly sunny skies or highs in the 50s with clouds. Earthquakes or rain.  Whatever the circumstances, I will give thanks. Oh how much I undeservedly have to be thankful for. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!