Friday, November 30, 2007

November 30, 2007

Well, Thanksgiving came and went. Sarah and I celebrated on Saturday the 24th, instead of Thursday the 22nd of course. We had to work on Thursday. I guess the Indonesians don’t care if adjusting to life in the New World was difficult. Plus, they had a bit harder time shaking the Dutch than we did the British, I guess.

Anyway, we had eight guests for our dinner party. We were the only Americans. The list included Bill (our Australian neighbor and co-worker), his girlfriend Rany, Steve our Scotish co-worker, his girlfriend Silvia (owner of our building), our jolly English co-worker Rod and his wife Lini, and their two kids Matthew and Jonathan. The kids sat inside and watched cartoons and ate, while the adults sat on the balcony and drank wine – an Australian shiraz.

They didn’t eat the way they were supposed to on Thanksgiving – that is, all day – but that’s OK. They weren’t really familiar with the holiday. Steve only had one other Thanksgiving experience and that was about four or five years ago in France with his girlfriend of the time, an American. It was not a good experience. He said it was at a strict vegan’s house and he wanted to contribute his special chocolate truffles for dessert. When the host found out the truffles had milk in them, she almost did not let him enter the house. True story. I guess strict vegenism might be some strange, bastardized practice of Puritanism or something.

Now Sarah and I, being the crazy vegetarians we are, did not threaten to throw anyone out. Bill and Rany brought chicken for the meat eaters (turkey is hard to find here) and it was a hit. Sarah and I made our traditional pasta with mushroom sauce and it smelled like the holidays to me, even though it was in the 80s outside. I also made garlic mashed potatoes and Sarah made chocolate chip cookies. Then after a while we all sat on the balcony and watched the thunderstorm move in.

We had to retell the Thanksgiving story, because most guests were a bit foggy on it. They wanted to know exactly what we were “thankful” for anyway. I suppose New England and the winters there and things like religious freedom and actually owning property haven’t been all that important to people from the UK for a couple hundred years or so… since they lost the Revolutionary War (or as they call it the “Civil War.”) So we told them. And I added they could stick around as long as they all were thankful our forefathers survived and then demanded their independence from all of them – except the Indonesian guests, of course. We’re actually muscling in on their turf. They didn’t think all this irony was quite as funny as I did.

Hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving. We’re thankful for all our friends and family and wish you a great holiday season.

3 comments:

Dewey said...

I always enjoy your writing, it makes me laugh and think. I believe that to be a good combination. Sort-of like a good boxing match, keeps your interest even though it hurts. I spoke to your mom today on Greg's phone at a coffee shop and she gave me your blog address. Sounds like you and Sarah are enjoying this leg of life's journey. I, too, have been on a journey here at Aboite and it has been good as well. I just want to let you know I continue to enjoy your writing, even the "mundane", as I always hear your voice speaking the words as I read them and it makes me smile. Your friend.

Sally said...

Sarah & Peter,

I've finally decided. I'm going to give myself a birthday present (11 days from now) to have plan to enable me to live abroad for a while. When you get a chance, would you please e-mail me? hepcats3@comcast.net
I would love more advice from those who are a few steps ahead.

I've loved your writings.

Sally

Unknown said...

Glad to hear you had a nice Thanksgiving! And Happy Birthday two days ago Peter!!! :) Hope you got to do something fun...