Picture this if you will: A veritable U.N. of Thanksgivingness.
The Smiths, who graciously provided the house and the bird, are immigrants of the Swiss nature. So, Switzerlandian. Then there are the Webbers who are invited as well and are made up of one-part Canadian to one-part Czech (marvelously heavy accent and all). Also invited are Lloyd's graduate engineering students, one from Iran and one from India.
The Holbs and the yours truly are bringing up the American contingent to this American holiday all on our lonely, which is quite the responsibility!
The Smiths, who graciously provided the house and the bird, are immigrants of the Swiss nature. So, Switzerlandian. Then there are the Webbers who are invited as well and are made up of one-part Canadian to one-part Czech (marvelously heavy accent and all). Also invited are Lloyd's graduate engineering students, one from Iran and one from India.
The Holbs and the yours truly are bringing up the American contingent to this American holiday all on our lonely, which is quite the responsibility!
Este had asked me to bring the sides, and so here I am, literally and directly representing my country, the entire thing, coast to coast, through food. Can you imagine such a task?
Naturally, I chose a lot of orange dishes. Thanksgiving is a very orange holiday, isn't it? Here is a sampling of how my afternoon of foreign feasting fared:
IRANIAN ENGINEERING STUDENT
So . . . is this pumpkin?
AMERICAN FEMALE
Oh, that's squash. Like pumpkin. But, squash.
IRANIAN ENGINEERING STUDENT
Skwashhh??
AMERICAN FEMALE
It's a gourd?
IRANIAN ENGINEERING STUDENT
(looks confused)
AMERICAN FEMALE
Would you like to try this instead?
INDIAN ENGINEERING STUDENT
These are pumpkin?
AMERICAN FEMALE
No, these are yams.
INDIAN ENGINEERING STUDENT
Oh. This is cheese on top?
AMERICAN FEMALE
Those are marshmallows.
INDIAN ENGINEERING STUDENT
(blank stare)
AMERICAN FEMALE
Sugar?
INDIAN ENGINEERING STUDENT
(look of understanding, then of concern, followed by waving of hands, international sign for no thanks, looney American.)
Cultural taste buds aside, I think it is safe to say my sides were a hit. They were a hit with super force strength! Well, I liked them anyway. I kind of felt like a hero, an American hero! Where's my purple heart!
But also, it was exhausting representing my country and making sure I sat up straight and made a good impression and stuff and things. It was as though the entire international relations of Moscow was hingeing on little old me, and I am all together too inexperienced to handle such a thing!
But also, it was exhausting representing my country and making sure I sat up straight and made a good impression and stuff and things. It was as though the entire international relations of Moscow was hingeing on little old me, and I am all together too inexperienced to handle such a thing!
Because I am a smart cookie, I made enough sides to assure us of leftovers for the rest of November and on into December, leftovers being the best part of Thanksgiving after all, and then on Saturday night I received from the Heavens a stroke of bravery and decided to cook us up a baby turkey. Yes it was bravery, and also but that turkey only had another couple a good days left so why not, you know?
While Mr. Turkey roasted up good and juicy I reheated the sides, whipped up some stuffing, and made a little gravy too. And then suddenly it was Thanksgiving again! So, we rolled with it. (I did not make any rolls.)
Thanksgiving Part Deux:
Electric Boogaloo
And it came to pass that it was good! And afterward we sat back and stared at each other, me and The Holbs, shocked by this turn of events. It turns out, I can cook! Who could have seen that coming?
And then I pulled out the Christmas tree. Lovin tradition.
The end.
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