thanksgiving 2010
This blog is long overdue as the thanksgiving was November of last year. But it never stopped me from not making a wonderful experience from it. It was indeed memorable and i don’t know when will i get the chance to spend another kind of thanksgiving like this.
Thanksgiving of last year falls on November 26, which a day before our fiesta. Since parents are not here, they were in Australia for their little tour, jaci had invited me and brenfred to join their celebration of thanksgiving in Haven of Fun, San Antonio, Northern Samar with some of the Peace Corp volunteer from Region 8 and from the batch 268 and 269.
We had a quite American thanksgiving celebration in our house the 26th, with jaci’s doing all the cooking and the preparation with cassie’s help. But the big celebration falls on the 27th where everyone is there in Haven.
Brenfred and i went to Haven Friday after we were able to spend half day of our fiesta, with Lauren [who is a new peace corp volunteer]. We arrived just in time that the celebration is going to start. I was a bit shocked when i saw alot of Peace Corp volunteers that i never met since, but the Northern Samar never failed to entertain us and left us alone.
Everything was all set. Each one had their seats and are sitted next to people they know. Jaci, Leah, Alyssa, Cassie and Emma made sure that brenfred and i will be sitting next to them and will be comfy for the rest of the dinner. I was so clueless as to what we are gonna.
They wanted to have the traditional American thanksgiving. We had prayers, we sang the star spangled banner, in which brenfred commented that i’m an American too since i knew the lyrics. And after it’s time for everyone to say something, something that they are thankful for the last year. It was actually how thanksgiving is done. Before meals, everyone who is in the table has to say something on what they are thankful about, just anything – life, blessings, new career, new relationship, survive from accident, family. Say it!
It started at the other side of the table from Peter. I thought that since brenfred and i are Filipino we are not going to say anything, but jaci didn’t let it pass we need no, we HAVE to say something what we are thankful for. I have lots to be thankful for, especially for the past year. But i need to say something that will make sense to their ears. As the microphone is passed on to another and everyone before me says something about what they are thankful for, i remained clueless as to what to say. I don’t wanna fail jaci nor my other peace corp friends for passing the mic and not saying anything. I need to think quick of what to say!!
Then it’s my time to say “uhmm, i’m thankful that i was able to meet some of the 268 volunteers and gained friendship with them. I’m thankful that i was able to be part of this meaningful celebration.” It all came from nowhere, but i know deep in my heart i am thankful that of so many people they met and be friended i was able to share this glorious moment with them. Not just the 8 volunteers of northern samar but to others whom, i barely know and was able to be friends to in the end.
brenfred, me, jaci, alyssa, and cassie right after we had our yumyum dinner
everyone is so attentive to everybody's speech
it's dinner time :)
tori and her dinner
selena with the simple joy of thanksgiving dinner
everyone is set for thanksgiving
the long table is ready for occupants
the CAC people with jaci
me with cassie and laureen just before we started eating
jaci as the best cook
cassie helping jaci prepare for thanksgiving food in our house
Thanksgiving of last year falls on November 26, which a day before our fiesta. Since parents are not here, they were in Australia for their little tour, jaci had invited me and brenfred to join their celebration of thanksgiving in Haven of Fun, San Antonio, Northern Samar with some of the Peace Corp volunteer from Region 8 and from the batch 268 and 269.
We had a quite American thanksgiving celebration in our house the 26th, with jaci’s doing all the cooking and the preparation with cassie’s help. But the big celebration falls on the 27th where everyone is there in Haven.
Brenfred and i went to Haven Friday after we were able to spend half day of our fiesta, with Lauren [who is a new peace corp volunteer]. We arrived just in time that the celebration is going to start. I was a bit shocked when i saw alot of Peace Corp volunteers that i never met since, but the Northern Samar never failed to entertain us and left us alone.
Everything was all set. Each one had their seats and are sitted next to people they know. Jaci, Leah, Alyssa, Cassie and Emma made sure that brenfred and i will be sitting next to them and will be comfy for the rest of the dinner. I was so clueless as to what we are gonna.
They wanted to have the traditional American thanksgiving. We had prayers, we sang the star spangled banner, in which brenfred commented that i’m an American too since i knew the lyrics. And after it’s time for everyone to say something, something that they are thankful for the last year. It was actually how thanksgiving is done. Before meals, everyone who is in the table has to say something on what they are thankful about, just anything – life, blessings, new career, new relationship, survive from accident, family. Say it!
It started at the other side of the table from Peter. I thought that since brenfred and i are Filipino we are not going to say anything, but jaci didn’t let it pass we need no, we HAVE to say something what we are thankful for. I have lots to be thankful for, especially for the past year. But i need to say something that will make sense to their ears. As the microphone is passed on to another and everyone before me says something about what they are thankful for, i remained clueless as to what to say. I don’t wanna fail jaci nor my other peace corp friends for passing the mic and not saying anything. I need to think quick of what to say!!
Then it’s my time to say “uhmm, i’m thankful that i was able to meet some of the 268 volunteers and gained friendship with them. I’m thankful that i was able to be part of this meaningful celebration.” It all came from nowhere, but i know deep in my heart i am thankful that of so many people they met and be friended i was able to share this glorious moment with them. Not just the 8 volunteers of northern samar but to others whom, i barely know and was able to be friends to in the end.
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