Unlike 95% of Americans, we didn’t eat turkey on Thursday.  In Scotland, you see, Thursday was like any other day–though the great weather did allow for a beautiful game of golf.  Instead, Megan and I hosted a Thanksgiving party Friday night.

(for more pictures, click on the turkey…yes it’s a turkey )

My only Thanksgiving away from the states was in Hong Kong while I was on The Global Semester.  There, the 26 students and two professors dined on turkey, but also several Chinese takes on the holiday–I seem to remember plenty of shrimp and noodles.  No Chinese variety this time, though we did run into several difficulties along the way: no cornbread mix for a corn casserole, canned pumpkin was difficult to find, converting grams to cups is tricky.  The final menu included turkey–which, though it was my first attempt at cooking one ended up perfectly edible–green bean casserole, vegetarian stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls, and corn followed by pumpkin bars, pumpkin cookies, apple crumble, and delicious pecan pie brought by Margaret.

We even instituted some American traditions like eating bread with the meal rather than before, not heating the plates before serving, and serving coffee and tea with dessert rather than after.

It’s been interesting to explain Thanksgiving to Scots.  Despite some of its historical murkiness, in mainstream practice these days it’s a holiday all about food, family, fellowship, and football.  Well, we hosted family who enjoyed fellowship with new friends, ate plenty of food, and even chatted about football (England’s glorious loss last Wednesday).  I think we can chalk the night up as a success.