Thursday, November 26, 2015 dawned cold and grey in Moldova. Another day of normal routines as Autumn faded and Winter approached. In America and for us Americans around the world it was not an ordinary day, but one of our unique national holidays. It was a day on which family and friends gathered to enjoy a wonderful meal representative of the bounty that is America. For me it was and is more than a day for food and football. It is first and foremost a day of giving thanks.
Although I awoke thousands of mile away, my heart and thoughts were at home with family and friends. I went through my usual routines beginning with a breakfast of rigatoni and tuna fish. I then trudged through the muddy roads walking to the Primaria to work which that morning was mostly preparing for my English Club. In the afternoon 16 students at the Liceul Teoretic participated in the lesson which involved pronunciation, recognition drills and games of numbers, days of the week and months of the year in English. It was fun, but as I have learned tiring. God bless all the teachers!
In the evening I joined 15 others from our village for a trip to Chișinău to attend a benefit concert for children and youth with disabilities. The concert was in the Philharmonic Hall and consisted mostly of Moldovan folk songs and dancing. For a couple of the songs, a youth with disabilities joined the performer. The young people who sang were talented and added a special emphasis and touch to the evening. It was my first concert and fitting to be a benefit on Thanksgiving evening.
The next day I was off early to celebrate Thanksgiving with four of my colleagues. Nikki graciously offered to host us at her casa mica where we gathered to prepare and share a wonderful meal. Albert led the way preparing the turkey with a spice combination of his creation that made our turkey very tasty indeed. Kaya, Nikki and Cecilia all contributed to our feast of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, roasted vegetables, salad, bread and butter. We began with Nikki leading us in a prayer of thanksgiving followed by toasts to family, friends and the holiday with Moldovan wine and American Sprite. The meal was capped off with a delicious torte to celebrate my recent birthday.
Thanksgiving in Moldova was a joyful celebration of friendship and our American tradition. It was one more graced moment when I was grateful especially for my young colleagues.
In the evening I joined 15 others from our village for a trip to Chișinău to attend a benefit concert for children and youth with disabilities. The concert was in the Philharmonic Hall and consisted mostly of Moldovan folk songs and dancing. For a couple of the songs, a youth with disabilities joined the performer. The young people who sang were talented and added a special emphasis and touch to the evening. It was my first concert and fitting to be a benefit on Thanksgiving evening.
The next day I was off early to celebrate Thanksgiving with four of my colleagues. Nikki graciously offered to host us at her casa mica where we gathered to prepare and share a wonderful meal. Albert led the way preparing the turkey with a spice combination of his creation that made our turkey very tasty indeed. Kaya, Nikki and Cecilia all contributed to our feast of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, roasted vegetables, salad, bread and butter. We began with Nikki leading us in a prayer of thanksgiving followed by toasts to family, friends and the holiday with Moldovan wine and American Sprite. The meal was capped off with a delicious torte to celebrate my recent birthday.
Thanksgiving in Moldova was a joyful celebration of friendship and our American tradition. It was one more graced moment when I was grateful especially for my young colleagues.
