Turkey for You and Turkey for Me

It has been the perfect storm; a combination of exams, holidays, and regular days off has given me a full week off of school. It's a bit strange to be honest. I kind of miss my kids (I'm sure that will change when I go back to school tomorrow. Hahahaha)! I've been working from home these past few days. I have a bit of planning, but mostly blog posts to correct and upload, so I figured I'd post one myself. 

A day after my birthday, I experienced my first Friendsgiving. What a fantastic Fulbright Friendsgiving it was! The day started out a bit hectic. Thursdays are my longest days. Getting off at 5:00pm only to have to rush home, make mashed potatoes, shower, get ready, and head out for a 30 minute trip to Elena's seemed like the most impossible thing once the school day was coming to a close. Though I arrived a bit frantic and out of breath, my friends were nearby, ready with a glass of wine for me to drink. We already know each other so well! 

This being my first Friendsgiving away from family, I expected to feel at least a bit of sadness. The truth is, I didn't feel an ounce of it. The night was filled with laughs, music, and tons of food. There may have been more food there than there usually is at my family Thanksgiving dinners! We really went all out. Everyone contributed with some sort of side dish. We ALL brought a bottle of wine (which ran out before the food did). The lovely host provided many sweet delicacies. The boys of Eloy Gonzalo took on the great task of preparing and cooking the turkey. 

It was the first time in a while that most of us had been all together like this. We caught up, we laughed, and looked forward to our next reunion. We introduced our holiday to our host's European roommates, who were overwhelmed at first, but were captivated by the amount of delicious food taking over their living room. 

As is tradition, I will share what I am thankful for. I am thankful for the people in the picture above (thanks Karsten, for the sweet photo) and also those not pictured. They are my constant support while I'm here in Spain, partaking in this yearlong endeavor. I'm grateful that at the age of 29, I've been able to weed out much of the negativity that has surrounded me in the last decade. The opportunity to grow and focus on building myself up is something that I will cherish more and more as the years go by. There have been moments of self-doubt, regret, and uncertainty about the future. But, that is the greatest thing I'm thankful for. For how can one truly relish in the vibrant colors and warmth of the spring, if one can't overcome the loneliness and harsh cold of winter? Cheers! To winter and the much anticipated spring!