Thanksgiving dinner #1:
We celebrated a Thanksgiving feast the day before with our Bible study (pictured below).. this was a very fun time and it was exciting to share with a group of people that have become such lovely friends over these past few months, and some who experienced a Thanksgiving celebration for the first time. It was potluck style with a plethora of food and we even managed to have a turkey (thanks to Deb the turkey pro!)
The gals: Lela, Carly, Steph, and Val (from left to right) :)
For dessert, Carly made this wonderful chocolate cake. She was sweet to make it so American!
Thanksgiving dinner#2
It is tradition for the American interns to put together a thanksgiving dinner and celebration for the eMi UK office--So this is the time for the Americans to shine and show another country what Thanksgiving is all about.. exciting right?! Well, even after all of the 20- something Thanksgivings I have had.. I somehow managed to escape the cooking aspect of the holiday. So this was my first time ever making 'Thanksgiving' dishes, so the pressure was on... haha no, not really. It was actually a really fun learning experience with all of the shopping, cooking, baking, decorating, cleaning, washing, serving...etc. I felt so domestic. [Here is a shout out to my parents, aunts, uncles, and friends' parents who have always put so much work into Thanksgiving and cooking and providing such delicious meals :), I thank you all]
So, we were given the day off to cook and prepare (Thank you Mike-- our director at the office)... OH and before I forget, I must mention that.... IT SNOWED!!!! I know, I know.. I've seen snow before and much more of it but for some reason it was just so exciting.. one of those moments that catches you off guard and really makes you smile. Snow on Thanksgiving in another country.. now that is a first for me!
Deb and Val.. aren't they cute?! See the snow?
OK, now back to the cooking. There were four of us in charge (four Americans that is..) Carissa (from Wyoming, long term volunteer with eMi, & my mentor) made pumpkin pies for the first time and let me tell you... they were delicious. Bravo Carissa. They do not have canned pumpkin puree here, so her parents mailed her a 30 oz can early in the month. Thank you to her parents.. Val (from Cali, architect intern, & flatmate) was in charge of chopping any and every veggie and I have to say that Val is the best, most precise chopper ever.. such a talent there Val. I think she chopped about 8 onions... and she didn't even cry-- another of her many talents. She also made deviled eggs. yumm. Deb (from Cali as well, civil engineering intern, & flatmate) is the Turkey woman!! I was really impressed.. and she made the sweetest sweet potatoes. Way 2 go Deb Go. Below I'm helping her dress a turkey (that is another first for me--quite an experience). There is more: I was a little ambitious and went for pumpkin soup, scalloped potatoes, and green bean casserole... with some help of course.. and boy did we have a lot of food. We ate left overs for two meals the following day.
Wa laa the TURKEY!!
We started cooking around noon and we were ready to eat at 7:30pm--phew. This was quite a day. I loved it though, loved wearing an apron, loved cooking, and loved celebrating Thanksgiving in another country. God bless England :)
Below Marietta (Mike's wife) made such a beautiful table setting.
Lastly, in light of Thanksgiving, I'll share with you what I am thankful for:
Our wonderful eMi family... It is truly amazing that no matter where you are or far you are from home, in God's family, you have family wherever you go. I have been incredibly blessed by each one of them. My sweet flatmates Val and Deb, my mentor and friend Carissa, my director Mike and his wife Marietta, their lovely daughter Lela, fellow intern Adam and his wife Laura, intern coordinator extraordinaire Jean, and my friends in Bible study--- I am thankful for each and every one of you.. you have all touched my heart and it makes it that much harder to leave this wonderful place.
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