Traveling and working abroad is difficult around the holidays. You start thinking about grandmas' broccoli casserole and your aunt's weird cocktail creations. Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful for the friends and family in your life, but it also can make any expat feel homesick.
Want to avoid getting homesick? Well, celebrate the American holiday abroad. Why not get grandmas' recipe and make broccoli casserole? Why not throw together some weird cocktails to remind you of your aunt? By celebrating the holiday, you tend to not get as homesick.
Copying Thanksgiving exactly is a difficult mission abroad, but instead focus on the little things. Instead of making everything like you would at home, take some shortcuts. Why not eat a large turkey sandwich instead of making a whole turkey or make mashed potatoes from the box instead of by scratch. Try substituting local foods and items to make it more culturally relevant. Make Thanksgiving abroad different so that you are not too stressed, and you actually get to enjoy the holiday.
When you are cooking, share the experience with people. Show them how to mash garlic cheese potatoes or show them how to stuff a turkey. Share your experience with others. If you are with others on this holiday, you are less likely to get home sick.
Also, invite your friends or random people you know to share the meal with you, whatever it might be. Even if you just met the people, sharing a meal with them will help you experience the holiday to the most. Have everyone share stories and talk about your family and friends at home. If you are going to be home sick, do it around other people. You will most likely not be the only expat missing home.
If you are staying in a hostel, check the event guide. Some international hostels will host Thanksgiving dinner for its guests. If you are living abroad, check the embassy events because they also might host a Thanksgiving dinner.
Finally, there is no problem with interrupting your family's dinner at home with a Skype or FaceTime phone call. Let them know how you are celebrating the holiday. Introduce them to your dinner friends and give them a glimpse of what you are doing. It will be good for you and them.
Overall, it really does not matter what you eat or who you eat with, Thanksgiving is the time to be thankful. Be thankful for the chance to be abroad, to share experiences with new faces, and to have support wherever it is.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
