Turkey in China!

Turkey in China, a whole turkey at that too.

So, this is my Thanksgiving post.  It is quite late coming, but I think it's still worth an update.

Until about a week before Thanksgiving Day, I had no plans whatsoever for one of my two favorite holidays of the year (up there with Christmas). I wasn't actually troubled by this fact, oddly enough. And as it turns out, there was no need to be troubled by it; the Lord provided. The week just before Thanksgiving, an American friend of mine who I know from church asked if I had any plans. Upon hearing that my Thanksgiving seemed to be doomed to an evening with myself, a lone, stray American in Beijing, she told me she had some friends hosting a dinner and she'd ask if they had room for one more. Later that evening, I received a text from her informing me that the Thanksgiving hosts were more than happy to welcome one more stray "Yankee" into their fold. I couldn't have found a better home for Thanksgiving…

I was graciously welcomed into the home of Sarah and Marian, two middle-aged single ladies working in Beijing. They have lived in their current apartment 3 years, but have lived in China for a decade at least, I believe. They are old pros at decorating and making even a Chinese apartment feel like an American home – which was obvious as soon as I walked into their door.

As soon as I stepped in, I smelled strong coffee brewing, spotted soft whips of pumpkin pie, heard the clatter of pots and knives busily at work in the kitchen and saw American football on an Apple monitor – it felt like America. Their living and dining area was painted a deep red, almost burgundy. I saw a few pumpkins sitting randomly on top of shelves. On the coffee table was an assortment of pre-feast snacks, ranging from almond cookies to cinnamon fruit dip to real candy corn. It was everything I could do to keep myself from filling up on snacks. So, as the Thanksgiving feast was being finished up, I scavenged the snack table and talked with the other guests. There were 2 young couples also at Sarah and Marian's home. One couple had just recently married and moved to Beijing, while the other couple had been living in Beijing several years and had 3 little boys. There were 3 other single ladies, whom I already knew from church, there also. Everyone there already knew each other. However, I still managed to feel quite at ease.

For the actual dinner, we had all the essential Thanksgiving bits – turkey, both white and dark meat, stuffing, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. We also had salad, pumpkin and yeast breads as well as apple and custard pies. Needless to say, I ate until I couldn't eat anymore. Even with a break in between food and pie, I was still struggling to walk at a normal speed when I left.

I don't know how I would have managed this year without a proper Thanksgiving. Thankfully, the Lord gave me such a wonderful one with such wonderful people. The meal was delicious; the fellowship was uplifting. The supper was followed by a time of singing hymns of Thanksgiving, then capped off with the various pies. Celebrating this holiday in China has given me hope that if I am ever in China living one day, it is quite possible that I have perfectly fulfilling holidays even while abroad. Joy and celebrations can exist regardless the circumstances.

Earn Miles