Happy Thanksgiving!

Time to be a cheesecake as David called me last night.

Thanksgiving this year could not be at a better time to reflect on all that I have to be thankful for. First I would like to give thanks for my wonderful family which I'm unable to spend the holiday with. I realized I have not been home for Thanksgiving in 4 years now. I miss them everyday in Ohio, but being in Germany has made it even more difficult to keep in touch. During the week or 2 I'm able to spend with them here or there I'm always reminded what I am missing out on while I am away. My little siblings are all growing up so fast! I miss my silly sisterly moments with Kayla, Nic's humor, Cody's dorkiness, Taylor's inability to be quiet :). I miss you Mom and Jon. Thank you for your continuous support in all that my heart desires. Dad, Grandma, Duskie, Dale, Ryan and Ranie. I love you all :)

Aside from my family, my biggest thanks this year is the opportunity I have been given to live and study in Germany. With 3 months down, 1 month to go, the end to this dream that is Erasmus seems more real than ever. Laura came to visit us from Würzburg the other night and said Do you feel like you are reflecting on life all the time here? Do you feel like you are sentimental all the time? We agreed that everyday we are filled with pure joy, so much we might even burst. It's a dream land we are living in here. Filled with the most amazing, interesting new friends from around the world, new cultures, new experiences. I'm am so thankful for this opportunity. It truly been an amazing experience that I will never forget and always be thankful for.

Because I have so much to be thankful for this year, I have decided to have not 1 but 2 Thanksgiving dinners :P. Yesterday Amanda, Jo and I all cooked Thanksgiving dinner for several of our Erasmus friends and my flatmates. America is a new country with less history and traditions than the countries surrounding us now, but I think Thanksgiving is a very nice meaningful tradition. It was so sweet last night how enthusiastic everyone was to just be there sharing our tradition with us. A grand total of 22 eager feasters crammed into my little flat!

Amanda, Jo and I spent the whole day preparing. Finding the appropriate ingredients and tools is tricky in another country, so everything was created from scratch. Amanda and I baked the most beautiful apple pie. Jo made 2 pumpkin pies and homemade whip cream. We also had applesauce, mash potatoes, cranberry sauce, deviled eggs, turkey breasts (we thought attempting a whole turkey may be a bit much), and stuffing. Our lovely guests supplied us all with plenty of wine and desserts. Everyone loved the food. We were so proud of our work. (Mom I hope you are impressed!)

We had told Bram that before we eat we go around and say what we are thankful for, so he prepared a whole speech! It was very sweet. He said we should realize how lucky we are for our happiness, health and the friendships surrounding us. At the end we said:

"goce de su comida… (espana)
bon appetit (vive la france)
smakelijk eten (belgium/holland)
guten appetite (germany)
have a delicious meal (USA!)

and let’s say all together now: PROST!!!"

By the end of the night nothing was left over and everyone was stuffed. It was a good night spent with good friends. Several even stayed after to help clean!

Tomorrow I head to Berlin to celebrate Thanksgiving again with all of the OSU design students living in Europe. I'm really looking forward to seeing them all. It will no doubt be a good time. Updates on my recent travels to Prague and Zürich coming soon! 

Tschüss!