Just Any Other Day

It is very strange living in a country where there is really no understanding of the American Thanksgiving holiday.  Families gathering together to stuff themselves full of turkey, more carbohydrates than one can even count, and sweet desserts until their stomachs almost explode, is quite a foreign concept to most non-Americans. But Thursday here in Japan, is just like any other day. The kids will go to school. Matt will go to work. And I will go about with my normal routine.

I really thought my first holidays living overseas and being away from family would be the hardest. But I was wrong. Maybe it is because I have so many fun Thanksgiving memories with my family and it is one of my favorite holidays (how can a holiday that you eat until you vomit NOT be a favorite?), but I find this year just as hard, if not harder. With the time change in the States (Japan's time does not change), and now being 14 hours time difference, talking with my parents is more difficult. My brother just got engaged to an awesome girl who I can't wait to have as part of our family. I have six nieces and nephews who will be running crazy, high on sugar, who will be a whole year older when we come back for home leave. Holidays are meant to be spent with family, and it is hard when family is on the other side of the world.

So what we have to do is make our own family and own memories here. It seems Thanksgiving is something many of us Americans miss, so people make their own "Thanksgiving Dinners'. Last weekend we went to a big Thanksgiving meal out at a neighborhood where several CAT families live. Great company and great food always is a reason to smile. This Saturday I am attempting to host 3 other families for our own big Thanksgiving. I am extremely a wee bit nervous as I haven't made most of the items on my menu since living in Japan and I am cooking two turkeys.  Don't worry I already have Thai delivery on my phone's speed dial. 

The hard part about creating your own family in an expat life is most of the people are transient. Meaning the people you develop friendships with will most likely move on at some point in time, whether it be before or after you. And many times, you will never see these "family members" again as they may live on the opposite side of the world from you.

So for all of you spending this Thanksgiving with your family, say an extra "Thanksgiving blessing" for the opportunity you have to spend this year with them –– no matter how crazy or dysfunctional the day may be. There are so many people, whether it be living some distance from family, missing a loved one who may have passed, or have other reasons why they cannot be with their family, who wish they could be spending the day the same way.

Kitchen Street - Osaka

On what would be the US's Thanksgiving Day, Mary Gail and I decided to venture to Osaka for a trip to Kitchen Street. Neither of us wanted to sit around home, so we decided to head out for a little adventure.

Kitchen Street is a long tunnel full of stores many local restaurants will come to shop for items to use in their places.


The stores inside Kitchen Street sell just about anything you can imagine, such as aprons, kitchen gadgets, table wear, baking items, sign boards, chopsticks, paper lanterns, contemporary furniture, and even plastic food.


There were several pottery stores, many filled wall-to-wall with bowls, plates, platters, tea kettles and chopstick holders.

I was so overwhelmed with all the cool pottery that I couldn't figure out just what I wanted. After scouring the stores for a few hours all I managed to buy was 8 chopstick holders and a wine bucket –– all costing less than ¥1900 (around $20). I will have to go back soon to select some of the pottery dishes.

After we wandered Kitchen Street we went over to Namba Parks mall where Mary Gail told me she knew of a Hawaiian restaurant that was pretty good.


I was so excited when I saw the menu. In a country where only a few import stores carry turkey one time per year, this restaurant had a turkey and avocado sandwich served on wheat bread.

I got turkey on Thanksgiving!!!

We also split the biggest basket of fries I have ever seen in Japan.

Turkey and the day with a friend -- it turned out to be a nice Thanksgiving after all.

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Freak Out

There has been only one Thanksgiving holiday that I have not spent with my parents. This year will be the second. Matt and I decided that 20 hours in a car (10 hours each way) with our three kids through the mountains is just something we are not up for, especially since we will be doing it next month for Christmas. I have to admit, it was more my decision than Matt's. With how busy we have been and how busy we will be the next few months, I just want to stay home and relax for a few days. No running around, no pressure. I hope it was the right decision.

I have offered to host Thanksgiving dinner with two of my neighbor's and their families. None of us have family nearby so we have decided to be each others family for the holiday. Thursday I will be cooking for 14 people. And now that it is just two days away, I am starting to freak.

I have my menu all set and today I went shopping for all the ingredients.

Appetizers:
Sausage Cheese Balls
Stuffed mushrooms

Dinner:
Turkey (duh!)
Mashed potatoes and gravy
Stuffing
Green bean casserole
Corn casserole
Sweet potato casserole
Homemade cranberry sauce
Salad
Rolls

Dessert:
Pumpkin pie
Caramel pecan cheesecake
Chocolate Crack
Strawberry Pretzel Dessert

I have never cooked a meal like this all by myself. Sure I have done parties, but that is much easier than a formal type meal. Plus in Illinois we had a double oven. Here we have one. And that is reserved for my 22 pound turkey. So now I am premaking all the dishes and running them to the neighbors to cook. Plus I have no decorations.

I am not a holiday decorator so if anyone is expecting a stuffed turkey or cornucopias with pretty leaves they will be disappointed. And how about tableware. I have our regular everyday plates (8 place settings) and then plastic plates for the kids. It is either our everyday stuff (We only own 2 place settings of china so that option is out) or we eat off of the Dora and Diego paper plates Sami suckered me into buying. And I don't have a gravy boat. In fact I hate gravy. So what do I serve gravy in?

I love to cook and bake. Love love love. But I am not a formal party host. I am better at a beer and burger type of function than a formal dinner. So I am a bit nervous.

Any tips or easy decoration ideas? Send them my way! And don't worry, my digital camera battery is all charged and ready to take lots of pictures.

Miss Me?

What a long past 5 days. We got back around 10 pm last night after our Thanksgiving trip back to Buckeye Country (AKA Ohio). It was a long, but good visit.

We left with the chickens on Wednesday trying to avoid the worst of the coastal storm and traffic. Luckily we managed to avoid both. Wednesday night we were to the movies with my parents. We did a guy/girl movie night. The boys went to see Pirates of the Caribbean 2 and the girls went to see Flicka. I was torn between wanting to drool over Orlando Bloom with the boys or Tim McGraw with the girls. Tim won and I have to say it was a good choice.

Thursday was the big Turkey Day. The girls were so excited to get to help my mom make the homemade cranberry relish and the baked corn. Then we had a nice dinner with our family, my parents and my brother and SIL. For once I didn't eat until I wanted to puke. I let Matt do that instead. Then we went to the movies with my brother and SIL. I now remember why I do not goto movies with my brother. He took us to see Borat... needless to say my brother and I do NOT have the same taste in movies. But regardless it was awesome to get to spend some time with my brother. He has really grown up into quite a young man (is 27 considered young??) and I just love his wife.

Friday my mom and I hit Black Friday shopping with both feet running. I am happy to say I got over 1/2 of my shopping done. Then Friday afternoon we met up with Matt's sister, brother, their spouses and my neices and nephews. For those who do not know, the family is in a wee bit of conflict with the woman my FIL married a few years ago. I am happy to report after abrief encounter between DH and her, we were left alone for the day to visit with the rest of the family. While the men went to pick corn my SILs and myself watched the kids and talked. It seems like forever since we have done that and it was very nice. After the guys cleaned up we went to dinner, however next time I highly suggest ordering take-out. Dinner with 6 adults and 7 children (5 of them being 3 or under) is quite frazzling.

Saturday after we said goodbye to my family and DHs family we stopped by the hospital to visit Matt's grandma. She was admitted on Thanksgiving day and right now we aren't too sure what is wrong with her. So keep her in your thoughts. Then we headed to Coolumbus to catch up with some friends and for the kids to be in the Gahanna Holday of Lights parade (don;t worry I will have just an entry deducated to my kids first parade experience). We had an awesome time and it was great catching up with people that we haven't seen since this summer and to meet the new babies in the group and for the kids to play.

Sunday we left for home, hoping to avoid traffic. No such luck. It took us almost 3 extra hours to get home. Nothong like driving 10 MPH through the mountains as I get sick and DH gets annoyed with stupid drivers. But regardless we made it and it was SO nice to sleep in our own bed. It is always nice to visit, but it is always nice to come home too.

Gobble, Gobble

Flyer. He was the turkey chosen by President Bush to be pardoned for this Thanksgiving. I don't know why I find this ceremony so funny, but I do. But even funnier, a back up bird was chosen in case "Flyer" couldn't perform his duties –– and that bird is "Fryer".

You can see Flyer and Fryer at California's Disneyland tomorrow, serving as honorary grand marshals of the Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Anyways, Happy Thanksgiving!!