A Tico Thanksgiving!!

  Thanksgiving, or Dia de Accion de Gracias as it is known here, is fast approaching! I have been daydreaming of creamy mashed potatoes, hot biscuits, turkey, and delicious pies for the past two weeks!! Unfortunately, turkey is not easy to come by here in Costa Rica. The good news is that after speaking with my host family, we will be having a makes shift Thanksgiving dinner!! While cooking is by far not my thing, I have volunteered to make mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, biscuits, and possibly a pie. When I say make, I mean look for a box or can with the easiest instructions. I asked my family if on this night we could all eat together, and I hope to incorporate some of my own family’s traditions. These are: going around and giving thanks for something before we all start to eat, and serving everything family style in the center of the table. As much as I long for a traditional Thanksgiving, I know this will be anything but that. We’ll probably eat chicken or fish, and I’m sure there will be some yucca, and rice and beans on the table as well. But hey, that’s what this is all about. I’m in a foreign country to learn about another culture, which unavoidably celebrates holidays different from the typical American ones. My hope is that just as my wonderful host family has taught me so much about the Costa Rican culture, I can teach them a little something about American culture. The Center of North American Culture in downtown San Jose will also be holding a typical Thanksgiving meal around lunch time on Thanksgiving day, and a few of us in the program are hoping to attend that as well. It should be a nice way to get our fix of Thanksgiving food, and being able to share our overseas Thanksgiving with other American here in Costa Rica. It should be an interesting experience! While I will definitely be missing my big Cuban family back in Miami, I am excited to share this special day with my new family! Plus, my family back home will be sure to include me in the festivities by calling me on Skype. I’ll be sure to add pictures of my Costa Rican Thanksgiving in next week’s blog!

The turkey dinner I have been daydreaming about!

   Since it is the week of thanks, I have to say Thank you to everyone that supported me in coming to Costa Rica this semester despite my fears and doubts. I also want to thank everyone that has been there for me this semester, listening to me when I was  homesick and laughing with me about all of my many adventures. This has been a Roller Coaster ride of a semester, and I could not have done it without you all!! Thank you God for all the amazing people in my life and for keeping me safe here in Central America.