Thanksgiving

Expats face approaching holidays with dread. As at home, it is always the holidays that bring all emotions to the surface and when one is far away, it is even more so. I have been fortunate, generally, to have wonderful holiday celebrations overseas, maybe just because people try harder.

This year, while a group of the Americans were planning a dinner over the weekend, my fellow teachers who share office space with me decided that I should not be alone on Thursday night and arranged to take me out to dinner. Wasn't that sweet!

Ten of us went out to a Japanese barbeque restaurant. This involves sitting at low tables that have "hibatchi" type grills on them. Then begins a procession of food to cook on the grills. I have not eaten so much meat since I got here altogether. Plates and plates of beef, pork, lamb, chicken, fish, shrimp, and vegetables are delivered raw and everyone cooks and EATS. Not exactly turkey and stuffing but the gorged feeling was the same, also the good feeling of being with people that you care about.

Then to top off the evening, the waiter appears with a big box that I, as guest of honor, am supposed to reach into and pick one of the colored balls. I got light blue which meant I won two round/trip airplane tickets to Bangkok! My co-workers went wild but, ever so skeptical moi, decided to withhold wild enthusiasm. A good thing since my roommate read the fine print that said the user of the tickets must be a Taiwan citizen, travelling on a Taiwan passport. We called about it today but the rule is made by China Airlines and is very strict. The group is now trying to decide the best course of disposal. I was just going to put all of their names in a hat and draw again but they think I can sell them. Even at 1/2 price it would make a good deal for both sides so they are planning an ad. I am just the bemused bystander!

All in all a very nice Thanksgiving. I hope yours was the same.