Day 28

Apparently some people, like the Brits, just don't get Thanksgiving. Honestly, what is there to not get? Sure, we could get into the whole Pilgrim-Indian feast -- although the traditional retelling that the Pilgrims were bringers of culture to the Indians is pretty un-PC and is frowned upon in many elementary schools. (Not to mention that the Pilgrims didn't actually wear buckles on their shoes and hats.) And I would venture to say that Thanksgiving, like Christmas, has become pretty commercialized and now largely serves to mark the day before Black Friday. But really, it's basically a holiday to do two things:

1) Spend time with family and friends.
2) Eat amazing food.

How difficult is this to understand? Sure, it's also a time to give thanks for aforementioned family, friends, and food, but the author of the article somehow doesn't get this. Does it matter what, specifically, we're thankful for? Besides, even if the tradition started out with being thankful for the Wampanoags' help in surviving that first winter, it doesn't mean that's on our minds every Thanksgiving. Plenty of traditions start out one way and then morph into something else that may or may not be entirely related. I mean, do people still think about the Germanic tribes' tradition of bringing a fir tree indoors to remind themselves that the shortest days of the year would end? We just put up Christmas trees and fight over where to put the ornaments.

The author also disparages Thanksgiving food. Okay, first of all, each family is very particular about their turkey day meal; everyone's got their own tried-and-true version of mashed potatoes, stuffing, etc. And people tend to be pretty hard on other people's food... and I do agree that those green bean casseroles with the french-fried onions are gross. But everyone's got their traditions, and they feel very strongly about them. Also, the BRITS are criticizing OUR FOOD? This is from the country that brought the world shepherd's pie, fish pie, steak and kidney pie, and all the other non-delicious pies? A place that serves all their beef well-done? Once you get a culinary school, Great Britain, then you can start turning up your nose at others' meals.

In short: the author of this article is dumb. I taught about Thanksgiving in Germany, and even the fifth-graders got it.

Day 27

Some families spend the day after Thanksgiving at the mall. They get up insanely early, fight the crowds in search of bargains (probably sustaining injuries in the process), wait hours in line for items that may or may not be in stock, and arrive home exhausted and marginally successful.

As you may have gathered, we are not one of those families.

In our household, Black Friday is spent doing two things, depending on what gender you are:
a) Male: raking leaves and/or assorted yard work, followed by going for NY-style deli sandwiches and then watching the Food Network or sports for the rest of the day.
b) Female: going to this Christmas market.

Visiting the Christmas market is a four-year tradition now. We first went the year before I went to Cambridge, I believe. The event is not nearly as fun as Christmas markets in Germany -- this one doesn't have mulled wine and is indoors, for example -- but it's a pretty good time. There are a lot of vendors, and there is a huge area set aside for German Pyramiden, Räuchermänner and assorted wood carvings and ornaments from Germany. Those, along with the smell of roasted almonds that hovers over the place, make me nostalgic. The only thing is that most of the vendors at this market stay roughly the same from year to year; it's all brand new the first time you visit, but you kind of get inured to the stained glass, picture frames, knitted hats and doll clothing by year four. (It's all very folksy.) But it's something to do, a chance to get out of the house and once in a while you'll find something interesting.

I'm looking forward to the next Christmas market we're visiting, in Canada. If it's anything like last year's, it'll be more authentic, with more actual German stuff, more German food (and Glühwein!), and more Germans. (which is perhaps a disadvantage) It'll also be about 20 degrees colder, but this one's mostly indoors as well. If you're planning on taking a trip to Canada, I recommend checking it out.

Day 26

Happy Thanksgiving! It's the best holiday of the year, so enjoy it!

Day 24

At handbell rehearsal tonight, I mentioned that a place I'd interviewed with was flying me out to meet them. One of the other members said, 'Oh, I'll keep my fingers crossed. That happened to me a bunch of times; people flew me out and then they ended up hiring internally.' Uh... great? So I'm a bit less hopeful now, which is maybe a good thing, so I won't get as disappointed if it doesn't work out.

... oh, who am I kidding; I'll be really bummed. Fingers still crossed.

Safe Thanksgiving travels, everyone! I still have to pack..