RUN: Agradecida (thankful)

Thanksgiving has always been and will always be one of my favorite holidays. I can’t exactly put my finger on why I love it so much, but it may have to do with the duality that it embodies; the idea that on this day we can nourish our souls in two ways. Part of this comes from the Soul  nourishing Food that you eat; other soul foods like fried chicken, baked macaroni and cheese, and cornbread were staples in my house growing up. My mother isn’t the most affectionate person in the world and I know that she struggles to show her love at times, but I could always feel her love through the food she made. The time and effort she put into preparing these meals exemplified her desire to care for and nourish her children-it was like one big hug and kiss... in your tummy. And Thanksgiving is a day when you not only get to enjoy buckets of nourishing food, but you also have the chance to gather with friends and family. As I grow older, the few time each year that I get to see my friends and family have become more meaningful. Now that I’m in Texas I can’t just walk down the hall or up the street to see someone I love; now I have to put time and effort into making these interactions happen. And whether it’s making a turkey and cornbread, or scheduling a visit, I know that the time and effort I put in will be more than worth it because I always feel so loved, nourished, and often strengthened afterward. And thankfully this Thanksgiving wasn’t any different. I feel so blessed to have had this opportunity to live in Spain and I wanted to celebrate that. Rather than joining the other American auxiliars I decided to have a Spanish Thanksgiving. So I invited my roommates and two of my new Spanish friends for día de Acción de Gracias (Thanksgiving) Spanish style. We had jamón, I made pan con tomate (a common tapa made of bread with tomato), arroz con pollo (chicken and rice), tortilla de patata (something like a potato cake), and even made homemade Sangria to accompany my favorite beer from Granada, wine from (Borja) the town I work in, and one of my roommates even made a Italian strawberry dessert. 

It was ABSOLUTELY wonderful! We all sat around and ate, drank, and talked (entirely in Spanish) until 1am, which was pretty late considering I had to get up for work at 6:30am the next day. It warmed my heart to see everyone enjoying their food and each other’s company as much as they did. This was my way of sharing a big American hug and kiss with my new friends.
The adjustment of living in a foreign country with a foreign language has been difficult at times but 
this one night recharged my battery and I am more energized, comforted, and hopeful than before–I am truly agradecida por (thankful for) this special Thanksgiving.