Giving Thanks

I absolutely love the holiday season. It's my favorite time of year....I love when the weather grows chilly (even cold...I love winter clothes), the leaves change colors and fall, football games, Christmas decorations and carols, and the memories that flood back when Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer or A Christmas Carol (the George C. Scott as Ebenezer Scrooge version, of course) come on TV.  I relish each and every tradition and love the time spent with my family so much.  When I decided to move to Australia, one of the first things I wondered was what the holidays would be like "down under" and whether I would truly miss my version of the holiday season. I do, but am thankful to experience a new one. I'll tell you about it!


So, it's now summertime here. It's rainy but each week, more and more days are filled with clear blue skies and sun. The days are getting longer, and summer clothes and sandals are now on regular rotation from my closet.  That in and of itself is strange - it's December. It should be cold! It gets stranger as more Christmas decorations go up. Without Thanksgiving here, the tinsel and trees were up in mid-November!


Thanksgiving came and went here just like any other day. My Mom asked me if I was at least going out to dinner, but no, I had Pilates and fell asleep without even eating dinner! The next day, while at work on Friday, I skyped with my entire family after they enjoyed my mom's delicious feast. I admit.....I wanted to cry. I just miss them all so much. BUT.....I am damn lucky. I have made such wonderful friends here that I feel as if I have a new "family of friends". And with them, I have now enjoyed two Thanksgivings!


The first was at Amanda's house. There were about 40-50 of us! The beauty of it was that while there were a few Americans there, we also had a token Brit, a lovely South African and about 40 Aussies who have come to love Thanksgiving! We all were meant to bring something, but they don't have the same ingredients here. For example, turkeys are hard to come by. They have to be pre-ordered and are mucho expensivo. And no cornbread, pumpkin pie filling or wild rice! Mom had sent ingredients for her delicious rice dressing but alas, the box was caught in customs so I had to improvise the night before our Thanksgiving. I made a delicious sage/sausage/bread stuffing, my famous stuffed mushrooms, roasted veggies and a horseradish dip. We ate, enjoyed (lots of) beer, played the traditional American college game of beer pong (which more than one Aussie can't help calling "beer ping pong") and watched NFL games via my slingbox. Amanda's turkey was divine, and the day was all-around great fun. Special thanks to Amanda, Dawn, Devin, Nipul, Muzza, Jason, Robbie, RIch and Kath for a great day.

This is Drummer, the dog Amanda is fostering. He's so sweet. 

My sage/sausage/bread stuffing!

My friend Dawn and me! 

Dawn, Nipul and me....with the traditional Thanksgiving jello shot.

Fast forward one more week, and I had another Thanksgiving (yesterday) at my dear dear friends Tim and Amanda's (i.e., TMac and Manders) house. As luck would have it, TMac proposed to Manders the day prior, so we had a lot to celebrate! Amanda made wonderful food (I made the mushrooms and roasted veggies again) and Tim made yummy cranberry margaritas, and gathered a host of folks they know from their time living in London and Sydney. There were Brits, Aussies, Frenchies and Americans. After eating, we all went around and said what we were thankful for. We all agreed that we are thankful for change, and not being too afraid to make it. And we are thankful for our family of friends. Thank you to TMac, Manders, Carly, Ben, Nipul, Kate and James for an awesome day.

TMac and Manders!

It's hard to be away from home, especially during the holidays. But I am so lucky to have met all these great people who will be lifelong friends of mine. I am thankful for the support of my friends and family back home. And of course for Fletcher, because he's awesome.


And thanks to all of you who read my blog! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, wherever you are!


Until next time...xoxo


p.s. Hey Bondi Chat - I love you all.