A Very Thankful Thanksgiving

When I think of the holiday season, one word comes to mind… Family.  People have many definitions for what family means, everything from a mom, dad, siblings, grandparents, cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts, and uncles, to friends, teachers, roommates, and Peace Corps Volunteers.  Well for the next one and a half holiday seasons, I will be spending it with the latter. 

Last week as my fellow PCV’s and I indulged in a Thanksgiving meal (more on that in the next post), we sat and did the traditional, “What I am Thankful For” activity.  I thought I would share…

- Clean water

- Ice

- Steady electricity

- Running water, both hot and cold

- Pillow top mattresses

- Meat that is already killed, cleaned, and packaged

- Refrigerators, which leads me to cold drinks, leftovers, and non-moldy cheese

- Lakes and rivers that do not contain Schistosomiasis

- Shaun T and his Insanity workouts

- Organized stores

- Ovens

- Wi-Fi Internet

- Police officers who distribute tickets and enforce traffic laws

- Reliable transportation options

- Taxi’s that do not exceed the amount of people allowed in the car

- Seatbelts

- American music

- A pen and paper to jot down moments of this crazy experience

- Greek yogurt

- A variety of food, which leads me to home cooked food

- Cold beer, cold soda, and cold water

- A compact rain jacket

- Kaiser Permanente

And now for some more meaningful ones…

- Living in a country filled with some of the most hospitable people I’ve met

- Family that is supportive, loving, and always there through the thick and thin

- Friends who still cherish our friendship despite the distance

- PCV’s who are there when you need to cry, scream, or share a breakthrough

- Family members of PCV’s who visit and bring American treasures

- Good health

I hope you all had a wonderful start to your holiday season and that you cherish every moment with your family… Whoever that may be.