To start off, I had already been prepared for missing Thanksgiving-at one point, I was even willing to miss Christmas to travel around Europe between Morocco and Belgium next semester-one day, I really will spend Christmas in a European city and New Year's in Paris. But, as the holidays were coming closer, I was getting more and more upset that I wouldn't be blasting Hip-Hop Nation in my car for two-and-a-half hours down I-81 from Roanoke or up all of Wednesday night baking or watching the parade with my little cousin the next morning, finishing up handmade nameplates (a tradition for the baby of the family), not even sorting through the remainders of Black Friday sales. Thankfully, though, the faculty here at AUI plans a Thanksgiving for the international students every year.
When I had first heard of it, we all were extremely excited, and I invited my Moroccan friend, Ghizlane to the dinner also, and she offered to let us use her kitchen to make food. The next couple of weeks, we were all buzzing about how we missed home; all of our families traditions, from what we ate, to what time we ate, to what we wore, and any particularly unique customs; as well as what we were planning on making. I decided to go with Halusky, a Slovak dish I fell in love with this summer, because it's really easy to make-usually. Leading up to Thanksgiving, Ghizlane invited us over to her house on Wednesday for a sleepover so that we could cook the night before. The dumplings for the halusky weren't sticking together to boil, then, we must have made them to large because the next day when I opened up the container, they had turned the color of bruise (literally, best way to describe it-purple, blue, brown?). Just not good to be serving to 150 people. I was really upset, because nothing I ever make ever turns out as a failure. Allison and I tried stremaing the parade the next day, but the wi-fi at AUI is pretty terrible, and we could hear parts of it with a frozen screen, or commercials for the latest Elmo toy. Aside from the dumplings, I was also already upset because my professor had scheduled a last minute make-up class because he's going to be gone this week, and he expected all of us to come (the class has seven students, five are American) for a workshop on how to write a paper. I was planning on just not going, but my friend, Kat, eventually talked me into going for the thirty minutes before Thanksgiving started, and I hesitantly complied, but still think it was unfair and useless.
However, Thanksgiving with all of the internationals and Moroccan guests was so much fun. There was so much food granted, the mashed potatoes were more like slimy baby food, but if I had to miss Thanksgiving at home, I would be glad to do it with these people again. Thanksgiving really made me realize how lucky I am with just this experience alone. Yes, I do have much more to be thankful for like a home, car, loving friends and family, etc, but really, there are three major categories of things I had to be thankful for this year:
1) Being a student at Roanoke college, which I have a fairly substantial scholarship to; has given me the most encouraging professors; challenging courses to build my thought process; the best friends anyone would be lucky to have, who have encouraged me with everything I have decided to do in the last year and who are literally there for me through everything; has given me four huge opportunities, which I'm sure I would never be able to have at any other institution: Washington DC, May Term, Morocco, and Belgium; and is probably the most beautiful campus I could imagine attending (we'll disregard the Kregger Center construction for right now). Undeniably, I am so excited to be going back in August because I miss my "home away from home" so much, but I would be so upset with myself if I hadn't taken all of these opportunities.
2) A supporting family who goes along with my globe-trotting schemes. From supporting me to find my favorite thing in the world, traveling with two People to People trips and supporting my dream career, never trying to talk me into something more "normal," but letting me pursue what I want. Moving me out in freezing rain last year in Roanoke, to packing all the same stuff back up to move to DC in the Polar Vortex and rain three weeks later. Coming to see me for my birthday and swimming through Kara's vomm. Coming to move me out in April and squeezing my belongings into every square inch of the car. Driving back and forth to Dulles to drop and pick me up from Dulles within three weeks when I went to Slovakia. Supporting me going abroad for a year, even when I thought about spending Christmas abroad, or when hysteria about Ukraine and planes were crashing left and right this summer, or even when Ebola coverage keeps saying "western Africa," implying Morocco, or even just because it must be excruciating to be without me for four months *Tiffany emoji hair flip*. And now, coming to spend time with me in DC while I apply for my Belgian visa in three short weeks.
3) The amazing experience of coming to Morocco on its own. Granted, DC and Slovakia taught me so much, but Morocco has taught me not only how to be a functioning person, but a functioning person in a different country, completely foreign to my own culture. Of course, I knew what it was like to be outside of the US, but had no idea what to expect coming to a non-western country. It truly has been an exquisite opportunity to learn about a different part of the world and gain new experiences. Obviously, to learn the lessons I have, there have been some negative consequences tied to them, but the good of the experience and learning a lesson certainly outweighs the bad. I've also gotten to see some awesome things: Volubilus, Mosque Hassan II, Barcelona, Chefchaouen, ziplinig, etc. Additionally, I have made such wonderful friends here. It's truly gong to be upsetting at the end of the semester when we all go back our separate ways to every region in America and continue with our lives, having no idea where they'll take us in the next couple of years. Luckily, we live in the twenty-first century and can stay connected pretty decently.
Overall, the experience of being in Morocco has certainly been able to make up for missing Thanksgiving, as well as everything I have been missing this semester like Pres Ball, Bojangle's weekend brunches with my two best friends, birthday celebrations, even countless hours of goofing off in a New Hall common room.
After Thanksgiving, I was also upset that I am currently missing the lead-up to Christmas: garland, tinsel, Christmas lights, music playing in every store, peppermint, going home to wrap presents with coordinating bows, wrapping paper, and gift tags, decorating the tree, as well as going to my cousin's Christmas party at school, and baking and decorating cookies with her and my grandma. However, I went to the non-denominational Christian service with my friend, Anamaria tonight, and got to celebrate the beginning of Advent by hanging boughs around the apartment service is held in and decorate a small tree. Afterwards, we had a delicious dinner and just talked for a long time. Typically, I am not that religious-even going as far as saying I may spontaneously combust by simply walking into a church. However, it was truly nice to spend the evening just singing Christmas carols and listening to what everyone remembers of Christmas back in the US, since the only signs of the approaching holiday are the 35 dirham trees in Carrefour. I am slightly upset that I'll be getting back to the US with only five days until Christmas, not nearly enough time to cram in all of my favorite traditions: BMS lights, baking, wrapping, shopping, etc., but just like Thanksgiving, I wouldn't trade the experience I am having for anything.
I also found out this week that when I get back to America, my first few days are going to be spent in Washington DC applying for my Belgian visa, inshallah I will receive it. But, I get to spend pre-Christmas in a city for the first time in my life! I'm so excited to visit all of my favorite places in DC, since I truly fell in love with the city last semester, as well as see all of the Christmas-y hype like in Union Station. Besides that, I really only know about the tree at the Capitol if any NOVA friends have any suggestions.
With that being said, I wish a Happy Holiday season to all of my friends back in America, please make the most out of it and cherish every moment this winter with your family, because in reality, we're all getting old and adult-y (scary, right?), and you may soon have to experience a Thanksgiving or Christmas without your family either being stuck at work or a train station or airport or halfway across the world.
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