Ho, Ho, Ho?

Wordgirl had a November 1 panic attack about the upcoming holiday season. She’s drowning in household detritus, hosting her family for Thanksgiving, and thinking ahead to the commercial whirlwind of Christmas.

For me, Thanksgiving is a holiday that has ceased to exist. It’s not celebrated here in Belgium, and while I can drive to an American military commissary and buy all the ingredients for a traditional dinner, I don’t bother. Thanksgiving is a holiday that just doesn’t translate well in a foreign setting. Kinda like Fourth of July. Our policy on Thanksgiving is to plan a big trip for that week and forget the holiday exists. It keeps us from getting lonely and long-faced, huddled around a small turkey on a week day while the rest of Europe engages in business as usual.

No, Thanksgiving is causing me no pain this year, but Christmas is already knocking on my door. In less than two weeks I have to have all the Christmas presents we’re sending to the States wrapped and shipped. No I’m not joking. We use the military mail system which allows us to avoid international postage costs while mailing and shipping things back and forth between here and America. Needless to say, there are certain times of year the system gets overloaded and backs up, and Christmas is one of them. If you want to be absolutely sure your packages arrive on time, you need to mail them before Veteran’s Day.

Now I’ve always been a nerdy overachiever when it comes to Christmas shopping. I like to spread the expense and the work of it out over a number of months and avoid setting foot in a store during the December rush, but even an early bird like me is struggling with the idea of having to wrap and package and ship in early November. This weekend, with the pumpkins still on the porch, I’ll be burning a balsam-scented candle and trying to conjure some pre-emptive holiday cheer. Wish me luck.

November 2, 2006

Copyright 2006 Veronica McCabe Deschambault. All rights reserved. www.v-grrrl.com

Comments

[Javacurls]

Yes, you're absolutely right... Thanksgiving will definitely not be the usual celebration here in Belgium. So I'm following your tradition and we'll be in Spain this Thanksgiving.

I'm excited about trading in the turkey this year for a traditional Paella meal in Spain! I can't wait!!

[echo]

When I was in Belgium, a bunch of us got together for Thanksgiving dinner. However, there were several problems. First, because we were all students, most apartments could only fit about 5 people in them. Second, Belgian students don't cook, so student apartments don't have ovens and most only have a two burner stove. Third, we realized that most of our were really lacking in cooking skills.

We ended up eating mashed potatoes, no turkey (several of us are vegetarian), berry jelly (in place of cranberry sauce), green beans, apple tart, bread, stir-fry (no oven), and Belgian beer. In the end, it was just a few of us getting together for dinner after class and didn't really feel like Thanksgiving.

I think taking a trip is a great idea.

[Shirl Grrrl]

So, where are you heading this year?

Good luck on the wrapping, packing and shipping! Maybe you'll start to get a few Christmas presents soon to put you in the spirit! Myself, I couldn't do it. Nobody would get anything from me, unless I did everything online and had it shipped directly to them.

[Dan]

We will probably go out for dinner on Thanksgiving since it will only be us.

[TB]

Yikes, and I'm the one who usually gets upset when the Christmas decorations go up right after Halloween. I guess you have to adjust when you're an expat.
Merry Christmas, V-Grrrl!

[amber]

Good luck! We are opting out of most of the gifting, this year. Just the kids, and parents. And I am taking Wyatt to the paint pottery place, to make his gifts for everyone. I just can't take it all!! Ahhhh!

:)

[Annie]

Oh, I remember the overseas early rush to mail! One year when we were in Japan, I was flying home for my high school reunion over Thanksgiving, plus I had decided to make Christmas gifts for everyone. I realized about 10 days before I left that everything had to be in teh mail before I flew to NY or it wouldn't arrive by Christmas. Total nightmare. I'm so glad you can use the military mail though, cause those overseas mailing costs are a killer. Also, on the plus side, once Christmas arrives, you'll be relaxed because all of your shopping and mailing will be long past.

[Ortizzle]

When I lived in Spain, Thanksgiving was always a mixed bag. There were restaurants that actually offered Thanksgiving turkey dinners as a set meal to Americans. But most years, since I did not have the day off, it just fell by the wayside. Although there were also a few years when I got together with large groups of other ex-pats and we did our own Thanksgiving on the following Saturday. Those get-togethers were fun, and carried the spirit of "family"... although, evidently, a different family. After 25 years, I feel like I have two big families, and half of 'em are in Spain for sure.

I like your idea of taking a trip. Sounds like fun, and great to do before Christmas gets too hectic!

[Wendy]

So If you lived here in the USA still..I guess you couldn't be my shopping pal...since the large majority of mine goes on say 2 days before christmas...Have I mentioned I procrastinate a bit..like I'm supposed be writing that novel thingie...and instead.....ah Fiddle dee dee...

[wordgirl]

Whew! I dodged the bullet and now my mother-in-law is having the Thanksgiving at her house. Now all I have to do is make sure things are ready for Christmas.