Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!

Yes, yes I know I am a few days late but since it was just another workday in South Africa, festivities with my host family had to wait until Friday night.  Can I just say, I found it somewhat difficult to properly describe Thanksgiving.  I feel like I must not be doing it justice because most of my coworkers said it sounded a whole lot like Christmas to them.  Even more challenging was describing Black Friday, and now I’m pretty sure they think Americans are crazy.  They might be right… 

Anyway, last night I cooked a small feast and my family and some friends came over to partake in my make-shift holiday.  I of course made everyone join in with the cliché Thanksgiving tradition of going around the table and say what you are thankful for this past year and it was pretty clear that we are one lucky group of people who have been blessed with love, family, and wonderful experiences. 

Turkey Day Spread

I think the success of my Thanksgiving was best summed up by my host mom, Bomza.  This morning she told me,  “Nikki, your Thanksgiving meal was so wonderful last night, but I ate so much I almost died!”

And now just a few things that I am thankful for this year:

I’m thankful for a host family that entertains my requests for celebrating American holidays.

I’m thankful for the friends that I have made in South Africa, I don’t think I would be surviving without them.  

I’m thankful that I have such wonderful friends at home who have made me feel like we are just in different cities not on different continents.

 I’m thankful for my wonderful host family that has made me feel right at home since Day 1.

 I’m thankful for my family back home who has been so supportive and encouraging of this adventure.

 I’m so thankful to have this opportunity and excited to see what will happen during the rest of my time here!