Holidays.
I love them.
Another excuse to get together with friends and to eat something new or something traditional.
Living around expatriates in a foreign country provides an even larger collection of holidays.
American holidays. Mexican holidays. English holidays.
But today is Canadian holidays. Or, rather, a Canadian holiday. A big one. Canadian Thanksgiving.
Americans were Johnny-come-latelies to the Thanksgiving Day game.
Canada's first Thanksgiving was in 1578. Martin Frobisher managed to return safely from a failed search for the Northwest Passage. This was not a celebration of a great harvest. It was simply a giving of thanks to God for allowing Frobisher to return home without becoming another starter package for icebergs.
On Sunday evening, a large portion of the expatriate community and some of our Mexican neighbors got together at Ricky's to stuff ourselves with turkey and pumpkin pie while visiting with new acquaintances and saying good-bye to at least one old friend.
And this gives me an opportunity to take a quick look over this little adventure of mine. I am truly thankful that I have had the opportunity to live by the sea in Mexico for the past six months. I did not think everything would be perfect. And I was correct.
But in the past few weeks, I have made some very good acquaintances at church and in the community. The one element that was beginning to concern me is no longer a problem.
And I am thankful that I may have a lead on a house that will resolve my living needs for the next five months in Melaque. I will keep you posted.
The best thing is that I will be able to be thankful all over again in just another six weeks when we celebrate American Thanksgiving. And, this time, I will get to help with the cooking.
I love them.
Another excuse to get together with friends and to eat something new or something traditional.
Living around expatriates in a foreign country provides an even larger collection of holidays.
American holidays. Mexican holidays. English holidays.
But today is Canadian holidays. Or, rather, a Canadian holiday. A big one. Canadian Thanksgiving.
Americans were Johnny-come-latelies to the Thanksgiving Day game.
Canada's first Thanksgiving was in 1578. Martin Frobisher managed to return safely from a failed search for the Northwest Passage. This was not a celebration of a great harvest. It was simply a giving of thanks to God for allowing Frobisher to return home without becoming another starter package for icebergs.
On Sunday evening, a large portion of the expatriate community and some of our Mexican neighbors got together at Ricky's to stuff ourselves with turkey and pumpkin pie while visiting with new acquaintances and saying good-bye to at least one old friend.
And this gives me an opportunity to take a quick look over this little adventure of mine. I am truly thankful that I have had the opportunity to live by the sea in Mexico for the past six months. I did not think everything would be perfect. And I was correct.
But in the past few weeks, I have made some very good acquaintances at church and in the community. The one element that was beginning to concern me is no longer a problem.
And I am thankful that I may have a lead on a house that will resolve my living needs for the next five months in Melaque. I will keep you posted.
The best thing is that I will be able to be thankful all over again in just another six weeks when we celebrate American Thanksgiving. And, this time, I will get to help with the cooking.
Yum!
ReplyDeleteSo did they have cranberry sause?
Todd
How weird to see so many platinum blondes in one place!
ReplyDeleteSince you love holidays so much, you are a natural to live in Mexico!
ReplyDeleteLooks like too much English among white folks, to me. How's your Spanish coming? Are you getting back on the street during the day?
ReplyDeleteTry an experiment. Sit down next to somebody and ask to share the table or bench, then strike up a conversation. The folks here love to talk and are intrigued by somebody trying to learn the language. They are the most gracious and forgiving people I have ever known.
Larry
Apparently I'm learning to read spanish in just a few months by reading your blog. I can read the restaurant's sign perfectly. Plus my hair is now the right color to blend in with the locals.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you are getting excited about the upcoming holidays. That's a good thing. Nice post. Take care.
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely to hear that no matter how far people travel from their home countries, they can still find someone to help them celebrate the holidays. We celebrated our Canadian Thanksgiving today in the traditional manner - eating too much. The turkey was not the only thing stuffed!!! We spent the afternoon walking in the bush admiring the beautiful changing leaves of fall. We had our first frost last night, and snow is just around the corner. Live it up in Mexico! You are so lucky...
ReplyDeleteHi Steve, My friend Marsha may be able to help in Barra. Her office is Mar Vida on Av Mazatlan and the phone number is 315 355 5911. I'll call and let her know you may be calling. We'll be down for Thanksgiving and it would be nice to meet you. Kindest regards, Joan and Leonard
ReplyDeleteTodd -- Cranberry sauce was had by all. Or served to all. Some heathens apparently do not like it.
ReplyDeleteBabs -- Platinum blondes? Yeah. That's it. Maybe it was a Harlow convention.
Constantino -- When I lived in Greece, I loved the fact that there was almost a holiday excuse for a party every other week. Mexico is not disappointing me in that respect.
Larry -- I continue to study my Spanish. And I get to use it often. But Melaque must be a bit different than Mazatlan, I do not run into many people on benches or at partly-open tables. This morning I went for a four-block walk in my neighborhood and saw one person: the night watchman at a family compound two gates down from my fortress.
Joe -- It sounds as if you passed the entrance examination.
Gloria -- Upcoming holidays? In Melaque, you merely have to wait a few days for some holiday.
Lady Toronto -- Thank you for reminding me that the life I'm living here is a dream. My brother tells me that repeatedly. And it is true. I said that to myself several times today. I am so lucky to be here.
Joan -- It appears I am finally finding something.