There’s something very patriotic about Thanksgiving. While historically it has nothing to do with the conflict between the colonies and Great Britain, in my second grade Thanksgiving is all interconnected with the Boston Tea Party, The American War for Independence, and Johnny Appleseed. (Sidenote – what was that Johnny Appleseed thing about? I have such vivid memories of wearing a paper pot on my head...)
Anyway, my point is that I felt like there was something almost ironically traitorous to celebrate Thanksgiving in Great Britain. However, it turned out to be one of my best yet!
As a bit of background, I’ve never been a huge fan of Thanksgiving. I just felt like it was a fake holiday, really only just marking the upcoming real holiday of Christmas. There was no real festivity, except that all of these people get together to eat and sit uncomfortably close in my Grandma’s apartment. Since then, I have come to better appreciate the holiday and its food. While before only mashed potatoes, bread and white Turkey meat (note the monochrome color scheme)touched my plate is now a celebration of colors – with spicy red chutney, golden stuffing, you get the idea.
So, ironically now that I am actually beginning to appreciate the holiday I have now spent the holiday abroad twice. My first experience can be glimpsed here: http://granadadina.blogspot.com/
My second one was a bit more festive, mainly because I work with kids. Teachers just thrive off of holidays, and in Spain it’s no different. I made 2 presentations on Thanksgiving to my Segundo classes – complete with Powerpoint and homemade pumpkin bread that I made with one of my teachers.
The kids actually seemed to like the history of the celebration – or at least my explanation. While I of course was historically accurate, I do try to help the kids picture the holiday in a more vivid form.
So my format was:
- When was the first Thanksgiving?
- Who were the Pilgrims?
- Who were the Wampanoag?
- The legend of Squanto
- Relationship between the Pilgrims and the Native Americans
- Food! – What we eat
- Food! – What they ate
The big highlight was the legend of Squanto. For those of you who don’t know, Squanto was a Native American from the Wampanoag tribe who helped the pilgrims. He was originally captured by an English man, Thomas Hunt and brought to Malaga, Spain (yes, all roads lead to Spain). He later escaped, moved to England where he learned English. Then, he was hired to be an interpreter and guide by another Englishman and moved back to what would later be known as The United States (want to be politically correct here). Then, he befriended the Pilgrims and helped them grow crops and yield the first successful harvest which happened in Autumn 1621. The party lasted 3 days and over 90 Native Americans joined the Pilgrims the end.
My favorite scene was explaining how the Pilgrims found out about Squanto. Apparently, Squanto taught some English to his friend Samoset. Samoset one day walked on to the Pilgrim boat (the boat was docked and they were living there before they built cabins) and said “hello Englishman!.” The Pilgrims, as you can understand were quite shocked that he spoke some English and he explained that there was a man named Squanto who knew even more. And thus, the friendship blossomed.
This scene is just begging for a Simpsons episode, and for all I know there may already be one.
Anyway, the kids liked that and also the fact that Squanto lived in Malaga! Malaga is now a pretty famous beachtown, so we all joked that he was there to get a tan. Also, I made sure to include info on the relationship between the Pilgrims and Native Americans, namely that it wasn’t all fun and games. Small pox, conflict etc were also involved.
Anyway, I was actually really looking forward to this year’s Thanksgiving partly from talking about it so much. It’s a pretty great story and I was going to London to visit my friend Natalie and Clayton with my friend Rebecca. I have lots of things to be grateful for, and for whatever reason this year I was really in the Thanksgiving Spirit.
LONDON
So, one Thursday morning Rebecca and boarded an Easy Jet plane and were off to London! This was also my first Easy Jet experience and I didn’t realize that there aren’t assigned seats. This lead to some confusion when two lines were intermingled and some pretty testy British girls thought Rebecca was cutting (she wasn’t) and proceeded to complain about her. Rebecca, the sweet girl that she is, kindly told them that she understood English, that she is not a bitch thank you very much and that she is not cutting.
We also have the tendency to talk about others in English thinking that nobody else will understand. I have now stopped doing this, or at least obviously, because numerous experiences like the above have taught me that no matter what, there is an American or British person somewhere nearby to hear you.
After an uneventful plane ride, we landed in Luton airport and met Clayton at the baggage claim. I was so excited to see him! He ended up leaving on a train to get into the city and Rebecca and I took a bus downtown and passed some very beautiful scenery. We were in London! Oh, we also had a snack at Marks and Spencer’s (love love love) which included humus, pita and caprese salad. How I had missed humus! I ended up buying another container on the way back and brought it with me to Madrid.
Once arriving downtown we found a Christmas market near the metro. With our rolling suitcases and all, we went through looking at the wares – finding some cool candles and mulled wine (my favorite) which would later become a theme for this Thanksgiving.
We got onto the metro (it was damn expensive and so small compared to the Madrid one) and found our way to Natalie’s apartment, in Covent Garden. After getting a much needed coffee, we met up with Clayton and stocked up on some bottled mulled wine from Marks and Spencers as our contribution to the Thanksgiving feast. We found her place and were greeted by Natalie, some of her friends (including one friend from GW hi Crystal!) and lovely smells coming out of her kitchen.
Here’s some of the crowd:
Of course, the crowning glory – the turkey. I must say, for only have one apparatus that functions as both a microwave and an oven (which required some strategic food handling) the meal turned out quite nicely and we all had a great time.
The next morning, after chatting over some tea and toast (with peanut butter, another spreadable condiment that I miss a lot) Natalie showed us around her area. We to tthe British Museum and some really interesting archives. You sort of forget the reach that once was the British Empire until you see a room full of the stuff they collected. It’s from all over the world and pretty impressive.
Here’s also a photo of the cool ceiling.
The girls in front of LSE.
We then headed over to a Thai restaurant for food- which was a nice welcomed change. While Spain has great Indian food, many of the other ethnic varieties, particular ones that are spicy, aren’t that great and super expensive.
Later in the afternoon we also met up with Clayton and walked to Trafalgar square, Green Park, St. James park, and of course Buckingham palace to see the beefeaters.
We then headed down the fancy areas of the city to see the lovely Christmas lights – seeing some of the famous department stores and stopping at very famous macaroon place called Laduree. High class in Burlington Arcade.
That night we wanted to experience London at night so we took a walk along the Thames and visited some of Natalie’s’ favorite bridges. It was beautiful – everything was lit up and we had a great time. That night we also went to some cute pubs.
Here’s us at one – it was all decked out for the holidays.
One strange experience we witnessed was with two incredibly drunk girls – to the point where they couldn’t even stand up straight. A group of German guys came over to her and started yelling at her because apparently one of them stole his coat. Minutes before that, a woman announced that there was a purse left on the bar and asking who the owner was and the drunk girl said it was hers. Not sure if this was all an act and this is how she makes money, but it was rather strange.
Then, we went to another bar and found two people asleep in the corner, and when Rebecca went to the restroom yet another was asleep in the woman’s bathroom! Needless to say, the Brits sure like to drink.
The next day Rebecca and I decided to get into tourist mode so we took the required red phone booth photos.
I think we found the ideal British phone booth spot. You can even see Big Ben!
We then went into the Westminster Abbey, one of my favorite spots. While crowded as always, a priest came to the podium to lead a group prayer. He then invited those who wished to join to a private prayer in a separate section. Rebecca and I decided to join and we followed the priest. He brought us into this section that is normally closed off and reserved. While we were sitting only 4 other people joined and sat behind us – and they were speaking in Hungarian! I wanted to say something to them once we exited but the priest stopped Rebecca and I and asked us if we were American. He welcomed us to the cathedral and was very sweet, but I didn’t have a chance to say anything to the Hungarians. What a small world!
We then toured the rest of the cathedral and visited the poets corner, etc. Westminster Abbey is my most vivid memory from when I first visited London (age 14).
Then for lunch we went to Natalie’s favorite fish and chips place and brought them home – they were delicious, esp with salt and vinegar. Later that afternoon we met up with Clayton again, took a walk along some of the bridges, got some Guinness and said our good-byes. While Clayton was staying longer, Rebecca and I were leaving really early the next morning.
On our walk back home we stopped at the Tate Modern to see the black box. http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/exhibitions/unilevermiroslawbalka/default.shtm
Basically, it’s a huge black box that once you enter you can’t see anything in front of you. It’s very scary – you’re walking into an abyss of darkness with no idea what’s coming ahead. On the way out you can see the light and its fine, but the first time you do it it’s quite the experience.
Later, we returned for a night of sushi take out and Love Actually. What a perfect way to end a lovely weekend! The next morning Rebecca and I woke up at an ungodly hour to take a cab to the bus stop, and then the bus to the airport. I arrived in Madrid Sunday afternoon and that was that.
Overall, a great weekend with lovely friends and a pretty good Thanksgiving if I do say so myself.
