Thanksgiving was a blast. The roommates and I celebrated T-day the Italian way with some pizzas and calzones. But then we all celebrated the traditional way on Saturday (belated due to an econ exam). It was a day full of cooking, just like home. Kirstin and I cooked a turkey, our first -- and quite impressive if I do say so myself! It was even more like home when everyone shared what they were thankful for over dinner. Such a memorable experience - sharing my first Thanksgiving away from home with people from 20 other countries and all so eager to share and learn about what Thanksgiving is all about.
This last Friday, the class celebrated Africa with people who have lived and worked in Africa sharing their experiences. Kenya, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Nigeria, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Uganda and many other areas were represented. The food was delicious -very similar to southern cooking actually. The experiences of those who have lived in Africa were impressive - some in post war conflict zones doing development work. Others grew up there and shared with us the values that make Africa unique and perhaps not so different from where we are all from. A place where family matters and the young generation is eager to make a difference.
The culture didn't stop there. On Saturday, we celebrated L'Escalade with the Swiss by doing the annual race. Geneva celebrates L'Escalade every year to commemorate when the city was attacked in the 15th century and saved (as the legend goes) by a woman who pored hot soup over the heads of the attackers (google it if you want the full story). Anyway, funny that women saved the city, but women only received the right to vote in 1990 in some cantons in Switzerland! I actually complained a bit that women were discriminated against because we only did a 5K while the men did a 7K. Yet, post race, I was glad to have been a woman. The hills were brutal. But it was a blast - a full day event cheering our team on as they ran at different times.
That same day, Kirstin, Rocco and I were treated to a Scottish celebration in honor of St. Andrews Day. Natalie and Michael cooked haggis, nips and stovies. I might have just butchered that though...in American English its haggis, mashed potatoes and pureed turnips. And we sipped a lovely 16 year old malt whiskey. I'm still not certain what St. Andrews Day is all about, but I'm officially a fan of the Scottish life and want to do a whiskey tour.
More to come as the cultural experience continues...
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