Happy Thanksgiving!
Tis the season to give thanks for all of those wonderful gifts in my life! I'm thankful for health (for the most part - I've got a pretty bad cold again). I'm thankful for Julia and Christy my co-teachers. I'm thankful for Robyn and I'm thankful for Eileen and Matthew - all good friends while I'm here in China (and beyond!) And I'm thankful for my supportive friends and loving family back in the US celebrating the holiday 12 short hours after me.
Eileen, Matthew and I went to a buffet here in town for Thanksgiving dinner tonight. We were devouring plates of fresh, raw salmon and all kinds of Chinese delicacies when a huge turkey came out of the oven and a man started slicing it up in front of our eyes. For one night only, the Beijing duck station became the Thanksgiving turkey station and the three foreigners were terribly grateful. Instead of gravy, there were dishes of spicy mustard to go with the turkey meat. I finished the meal off with a bowl of several flavors of ice cream and another glass of Chinese red wine. It was a delightful celebration and perfect for me.
There really has been so much to tell and so much to ponder this past month, but I've been much too busy to get around to it. I'm looking forward to some slow days in the coming weeks, though I'll be preparing for my mother's arrival - which I'm VERY excited about!
Looking forward to my returning health and returning free time, but still thankful for every minute of every day!
Your,
Lillis
