anyone who knows me at all, knows that i am obsessed with gilmore girls. i have seen every episode multiple times and can quote any of them at the drop of a hat. between gilmore girls and friends, pretty much anything that happens in life can relate back to either of those shows. during this year's thanksgiving saga i couldn't help but think about the episode in season 3 where rory and lorelei have to attend 4 thanksgiving dinners. although they were trying to attend 4 in one day, and i was able to spread my four thanksgiving dinners out over 2 weeks. however, now that they are all over, it is funny to think about how different each one was, and how easily i can relate them to each thanksgiving in the show :)
the first thanksgiving was actually more like a harvest party, and reminded me of the korean thansgiving in the show (although, thankfully, there was no tofurkey), super early and not traditional. the food was not your tradititional turkey and mashed potatoes, but rather delicious sweet potato curry soup, applesauce, stuffing, pumpkin cake, and incredible wassail. although, the food was not completely traditional it was still a time of wonderful fellowship with friends and a time to share with others doing ministry here in la paz/el alto.
the second thanksgiving was by far my favorite. it reminded me of the thanksgiving at luke's...all of your traditional food and people you love. this thanksgiving was hosted by a family from school who has blessed our staff in numerous ways. during dinner we took turns sharing what we were thankful for, and a major theme of thanksgiving was how thankful we all are for each other. if we couldn't share thanksgiving with our families, second best was sharing it with these people who we work with everyday and who share our calling to minister to children and families in la paz. we all know how hard it is to live overseas, but it is made a thousand times easier when you are able to share the experience with brothers and sisters in christ. after dinner, we cuddled up in front of the tv for a charlie brown thanksgiving, followed by dessert and games around the fire.
the third thanksgiving was perhaps the hardest for me. it occurred after school on the actual thanksgiving day. i woke up that morning thinking that this was the last time i could go and teach on thanksgiving day. for the past three years we have had school on thanksgiving and it has gotten harder each year. thankfully, our director has promised we will be on the beach next thanksgiving, not at school! the morning was wonderful as my students and i listened to christmas music and completed several different thanksgiving projects, as well as began decorating our room for christmas. the afternoon became a little more stressful as we had plans for all 55 first through fourth graders and i ended up taking charge of it all. after school, all i wanted to do was go home, enjoy some time with my roommates, perhaps watch a christmas movie, and sleep. i had been up until 1am the night before and had had a stressful week. but instead, i had to face the entire staff for a pseudo-thanksgiving dinner in our school cafeteria. i say pseudo because one could hardly call eating off metal cafeteria trays, on plastic chairs at plastic tables in a school cafeteria a real thanksgiving. the stress of the week, the sheer exhaustion, and the homesickness i have been holding at bay for three years all caught up with me that afternoon, and i broke down. i had no more strength left to pretend everything was okay. i was thankful, though, for roommates who understood and we were able to eat together, cry together, laugh together, and pray together. i felt like sookie whose thanksgiving was ruined because jackson decided to fry the turkey (the fried turkey was actually the best part of this thanksgiving!) and she just sat at the table crying. while she drowns her sorrows in alcohol, my roommates and i took a different tactic and sat down that night to watch high school musical 2, the cheesiest movie known to man and guaranteed to make you laugh.
the final thanksgiving occurred last night, and once again, can hardly be called a thanksgiving. lorelei and rory's last thanksgiving is at her parents' house and highlights all the dysfunctionality that is her family (i know that is not word, but it sounds good!). our last thanksgiving also opened our eyes to a completely dysfunctional family. we had been invited by the father of one my students to his apartment for a real american thanksgiving. and while the food was delicious, it was hard to swallow as i watched this man interact with his daughter. there was no respect in that house, and this 57 year old man admitted he knew everything was doing wrong in raising his 7 year old daugther, but showed no evidence of wanting to change. he has lived a crazy life, and while is full of entertaining stories, i left brokenhearted realizing that while this man has all the money he could ever need, his life lacks love and happiness. and i wanted to cry thinking about this little girl, who while curled up on my lap, was talked about by her father and his friends as if she was an object with no feelings. i left that dinner empty and sad, feeling an even bigger burden for students and their families.
part of me wishes i could have just stopped after thanksgiving #2, the incredible one. however, i know everything has a purpose and i experienced those last two, less than satisfactory thanksgivings, for a reason. i was able to learn more about myself and my students. i was able to really and truly appreciate my family and close friends. and the lord worked through each thanksgiving to challenge me and grow me and for that i am truly thankful.
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