Every year around Thanksgiving, I experience the something similar. I make the dreadful mistake of calling home and asking Mom what she’s cooking this year. For those who’ve never met Mama Ash, when Thanksgiving rolls around…um, SHE THROWS DOWN! I’m talking turkey, I’m talking ham, I’m talking string bean casserole, Sally Lunn bread, Mama Ash Mac & Cheese, meatballs, sweet potato souffle with toasted marshmallows, carrot cake, peach pie, I’m talking epic! Hjwgeopvialrekru5231e2`w1q`wwgv (Donald wipes the slobber from his computer keyboard). Hearing about these delectable delights twists that living abroad blues knife in my heart, just a quarter turn, right around the holidays. Being that I haven’t been home for Thanksgiving (or Christmas for that matter) in five years, you start to get emotionally numb to it; but the desire to see your family never goes away.

Every year for the last four years I have spent Thanksgiving at my friend Hiroshi’s house. Hiroshi and I used to teach together at AEON. He and his family make this amazing Turkey and some incredible Japanese food to match! I get to see teachers that I haven’t seen in forever, and it’s just a wonderful time. This year, though, I ended up having to go to Tokyo for an audition that was happening smack in the middle of Hiroshi’s party, the Sunday before Thanksgiving. So I couldn’t make it. To say I was devastated wouldn’t do my emotions any justice. I knew HAD to go this audition. Without a full-time teaching income, you either push yourself or end up choosing between food and rent (which is really not fun, trust me). The audition went well, but it didn’t make me feel any better about missing the party. I laid down, eyelids sorrow-laden. I drifted off to sleep thinking to myself “I can’t believe I just missed Thanksgiving.”

I woke up the next morning with my head a bit benumbed by remorse. I sat on my computer and checking email, scanning what I had to get done this week. Instantly, my spirits were lifted! I had two more chances to have Thanksgiving Dinner. My friend Chris, who oddly enough is also from Georgia and lives in Ibaraki, was making Thanksgiving with his friend Bernisha (ALSO FROM GEORGIA!) on the 22nd. My good friend, and former AEON coworker, was also having a Thanksgiving party on the 23rd! Praises be!

I had this amazing, Georgia-style Thanksgiving right here in Japan! Everybody agreed to contribute something. I, being culinarily challenged, bought KFC (Hey! Don’t laugh! I was gonna bring cups, plates and forks. I figured at least KFC is food, lol). Chris even made sweet potato souffle! When I saw it, I nearly peed myself (just being honest). It was SOOOooo good. Speaking of tasty, Bernisha made macaroni and cheese! It is so hard to get good mac and cheese in Japan; I’m not talking about the Kraft kind either, I mean the real deal stuff.Even the corn was good! I don’t know what they did to it, but I ate myself into a stupor.

Chris and Bernisha. THE GEORGIA CREW!!

OH YEAH!!! Mac n cheese, sweet potato souffle, chicken, green beans, corn...killin' it!

Thanksgiving Party Number one!

There's nothing like good food and good company on Thanksgiving Day

I was scheduled to do a job on Thanksgiving Day, but for some reason it got canceled and I am SO glad it did. Had I not gone to Marisa’s party, I would have missed a special chance to eat, laugh, fellowship with some great people, eat some more, and play Clue Not to mention that the food was freakin’ incredible, too:

*JG Readers: What did you bring for that party?
Donald: Oh, I brought the most exquisite Ferrero Rocher, Italian chocolates I could find.
JG Readers: Candy?
Donald: Yeah (LOL)

Nearly turkey time.

Former AEON students!

Two awesome AEON students

The turkey carving begins

I had never seen this before. Cooking a turkey with oranges inside helps keep the meat juicy and moist.

Pumpkin Pie and Butternut Brownie Pie. I'm drooling again just looking at them.

すごい! Butternut Brownie Pie を食べたい！

Pure comedy.

The Thanksgiving crew!

Nothing tops being home for the holidays, but there is something so endearing about the makeshift, Japanese Thanksgiving. Even without having all the necessary ingredients to cook the way one would back home (not me of course), Thanksgiving alchemy occurred. It was all about people coming together. Financial status, race, religion, nationaliy, ethnic background, or any of the other stuff that divides people, just didn’t matter. We all had a good time just being ourselves, enjoying each others’ company. Sigh (Donald loosens belt to make room for protruding tummy). Do you see why I love this holiday so much?

Mom used to ask that million dollar Thanksgiving quetion “What are your thankful for this year?” I’m thankful to have a roof over my head and clothes on my back. I’m thankful to be struggling right now…reaching for my dreams. I’m also thankful to be around genuine people who are trying to do the reaching for theirs, too.

Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!

Donald Ash