Thanksgiving is an awkward time for American ex-patriots. Part of you wants to get out there and find a turkey, and carve out your own little piece of America, darn it. Another part of you wants to mope, thinking of all of your American friends and family gathering around the table without you. Most of you would just like some good pumpkin pie, please.
Most Americans I know in London have come to a sort of compromise. They gather somehow, with that strange red-white-and-blue gravity that draws us together at this time of year, and do what any random group of Americans do when they get together - have a pot luck. So, someone offers their place (or flat, really), and asks all of their housemates to sacrifice their kitchen rights for the evening. Said host provides the turkey, and the guests bring the extras. And more guests. In the end it's a mish mash of food - and people - from all over the globe. Turkey with smoked salmon, bangers and mash, some curry...beet salad...pass the blackcurrant jam, please!
Not your traditional turkey-mashed-potatoes-cranberry kind of Thanksgiving, but...really, a decent reflection of the purpose of the holiday: Getting together, and giving thanks for whoever - and whatever - comes to the table.
Happy holidays, guys! And a special shout out to my fellow ex-patriots making it work, spreading the love.
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8 years ago
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I recommend what my sister did as an expat in Canada which is to force American traditions on those willing to show up for free food.She baked her favorite dishes, including a turkey, and had folks bring beverages and whatever else struck their fancy.
ReplyDeleteAlso, while I was overseas in the ME, we frequently had Americans in the service over for holidays. The boys got a taste of home and we got stories unlike any other family holiday table discussion. One included why they were (at the time) banned from dining at the Dubai Hard Rock Cafe. Priceless.