First Holiday Abroad

Apparently, it’s Thanksgiving… even though it certainly didn’t feel like it in the 100+ degree heat today!  There was no Turkey Bowl to wake up early for, no big family gathering to attend, no football to lounge in front of while slipping into a tryptophan coma-- it was a day like every other.  Even though I’m bummed to be missing out on family time, I have to admit that it really doesn’t feel like Thanksgiving to me, and that helps a lot!

This year, similar to every single other year of my life, I have been incredibly blessed and have so much to be thankful for.  First of all, I’m thankful for my mom and dad who support my every decision—even if that means I’ll be halfway around the world for 27 months!  I’m thankful for my sister who, after getting over the ‘annoying little sister’ stage, has become one of my very best friends.  I’m thankful for the rest of my amazing family who keep me the envy of my Peace Corps friends by always having a stack of mail waiting for me.  I’m thankful for my brilliant boyfriend who goes above and beyond what could be expected from a first year medical student to make sure I always know that I’m still a huge part of his life.  I’m thankful for the loving support of all my friends and family friends who keep me supplied with a slew of messages and letters—they help more than you could ever know!

I’m thankful for the Peace Corps and the chance I’ve been given to learn about another peoples’ culture.  I’m thankful for the hospitality and the welcoming arms of both of my host families.  I’m thankful for the fantastic teachers who have become true friends in the past two months.  I’m thankful for the 1,300 kids at school every day who all say hi to me every time they see me.  I’m thankful for the opportunity to learn to appreciate the small things in life.  Last but not least, I’m incredibly thankful for the other Peace Corps Volunteers who have become like family to me in the past 5 months.