gobble gobble gobble gringo-style!

Being away from the home for a holiday is probably one of the most difficult aspects of living life abroad. One misses not only treasured loved ones who gather together to celebrate but also the many familiarities of the sounds, smells, tastes, background music, game playing, conversation and laughter that accompany each holiday.

This year´s Thanksgiving holiday proved that there´s something special about uniting with one´s co-patriates when far from home... the celebration continues and, arguably, it is at an even greater level of celebration since all are giving 110% to keep traditions alive and well! So, suffice it to say, I ate WELL this Thanksgiving!!


Iowa Megan , Washington Jennifer, Minnesota Lance, South Dakota Meghan, Michigan Randy and Toronto (!)Grant (lucky guy got to celebrate Thanksgiving twice, since Canada celebrates earlier in November. We were also enlightened this year to learn that in Puerto Rico they also celebrate Thanksgiving).

Hosting the gringo-style Turkey dinner in our apartment meant you know what....the turkey was up to us! Meghan dutifully watched an MSN.com instructional video on how to prepare the bird, and I offered moral support and my photography skills! .... 6 hours of brine-ing that turkey turned out to be the special touch! That and then another 6 hours of cooking that turkey, due to the high altitude.

I should back up to say that we weren´t sure if we were going to eating any turkey at all this year, due to the significantly higher prices in Costa Rica. Thankfully we were able to find a cheaper price than the original $50 for a frozen bird at the nearby supermarket. We quicky discovered you have to get a bit creative when attempting to bring all the food traditions to fruition.... those same ingredients that you´ve seen purchased and used year after year at home might not be stocked on the shelves in the markets, and even if they are, chances are the dish will still end up tasting different!

With everyone contributing their favorite Thanksgiving dishes, our potluck-style meal was SO tasty, complete with Jennifer´s amazing green bean casserole and candied sweet potatoes! Yummmmmm! Here´s the whole spread--yeah, we´re good!.....turkey, garlic mashed potatoes and gravy, Stovetop stuffing, cranberry jelly, curried fruit and cornbread (made by yours truly!), olives, pickles and jalapeños. And, of course, pumpkin pie for dessert!

Check out my plate of food---oh, I was such a happy girl!---and check out my Martinelli´s Sparkling Cider....how stoked was I to find that Nelson family tradition!! :)
The night was made complete with reflections on the many things to be thankful for this year--some of us having spent all of 2007 in Costa Rica, others having just arrived--and then after pumpkin pie and coffee we got down on the floor to play SPOONS! Thanksgiving 2007 in Costa Rica was a good one!!