We are starting off Thanksgiving week celebrating the way any American family would. We’re binge-watching “Stranger Things” on Netflix.
After living in Croatia for half a year and watching only a handful of shows in English, I figured out how to make our VPN (Virtual Private Network) connect. Now we can listen to music on Pandora, catch my favorite radio podcasts (I love “This American Life”) and watch sitcoms that weren’t available on the web in Eastern Europe.
And on this Sunday before Thanksgiving, Sarge helped me with the grocery shopping, a chore he hates. While it was less crowded than any supermarket in America on this date on the calendar, it was a challenge in other ways. A walk down the spice aisle, for example, put our language skills to the test. I now know that “majčina dušica” might translate as “mother of the nuns” in English, but it’s actually “thyme.” Good thing there was a picture on the package. Through trial and error, I’ve also learned the difference between buying heavy cream and sour cream here, even though the packaging is deceptively similar.
I heard the Interspar grocery would be selling turkeys. That was not entirely correct. I should have done shopping the old-school way and ordered one directly from the butcher. All we could find was turkey legs. So, we will be having whole roasted chicken and some turkey legs. The rest of the turkey gets a pardon.
We will also have sweet potato casserole with no marshmallows (none to be found in Croatia). I also couldn’t find cranberries of any sort, or canned pumpkin, or measuring cups. I’ll improvise. We’ll still have other standards: mashed potatoes, green beans and rolls. And I will try to make pie dough without measuring the ingredients in actual measuring cups. Tea cup measuring should suffice.
The kids are celebrating “Italian Week” at their international school this week, and they’re not off for American Thanksgiving. We won’t watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade together. But we might get crazy and let the boys stay up late to watch Netflix or play a family game of “Cluedo” (the board game “Clue,” our favorite).
A year ago, we had an unusual “Friendsgiving” in New Mexico with Sarge’s pilot friends from America and Tunisia when he was working in Roswell. This year, we’re straying from family tradition again. Turkey, relatives and American football won’t play a central role in our feast.
We will still be counting our blessings. We have much to be grateful for this year, especially the opportunity to live abroad and grow closer as a family of four. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, and it will be different in a place where not many other people are celebrating. We won’t have a crackling fire, a La-z-boy chair to nap in after dinner or turkey leftovers for sandwiches the next day.
We will have a spirit of togetherness just the same. We’ll think about what we are grateful for, appreciate what we have and enjoy the simple pleasures of family nights, ordinary days and holidays, wherever we are to celebrate them.
Another wonderful post!
I am enjoying your tales of life abroad!
Sretan Thanksgiving!
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Thanks, Amy! Have a great holiday yourself.
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What a great post! Sounds like you and your family will have an amazing celebration! Happy Thanksgiving!
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You, too!
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Happy Thanksgiving, Tanya. You brighten my day.
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Happy Thanksgiving, Mr. A!
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I love hearing about different traditions and what you can and can’t get in different places! Hope you have an amazing Thanksgiving – I’m sure the chicken will be just as nice as a turkey!
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Thanks, Megan!
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It sounds like your family has much to be grateful for. Whether you are eating Italian food or a turkey, you can still celebrate Thanksgiving in your own way. Have a wonderful one with your family.
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You, too, Toni!
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No measuring cups? Really? I’d be sunk for sure. Happy Thanksgiving to your adventurous family!
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Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours as well!
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This is a great post! I hope you and your family enjoy the holidays!
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Thanks, Sydni! Happy Thanksgiving!
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I enjoyed reading this post! The fun of living abroad and visiting other countries is going to the market!!!! It’s one of my favorite things embracing how others live and making the best of it! Exciting you get to share this with your whole family! Happy thanksgiving! 🍁
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Thanks! Even shopping here is an adventure. Happy Thanksgiving to you!
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I was born and raised in Italy so I understand your frustration in not finding some American products! Before moving to the US I never had sweet potatoes!
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Sometimes I buy “mystery items” at the grocery just so we can be surprised 🙂
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Oh I love this! It is so true about living abroad, the planning for holidays is quite different than in America! But I’m know you guys will have an amazing thanksgiving 😊
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Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving to you!
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Sounds wonderful! Love your improvised ideas for dinner. But no marshmallows there? 😱 I’m not sure I could survive 😂
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My son thinks I should make some myself. That’s not happening 🙂
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Great post! Curious as to why there is no marshmallows to be found? Sorry if that’s a stupid question lol
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I don’t think they sell them here.
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Very interesting post! I had never thought about how American families living abroad would celebrate Thanksgiving. It seems like you’re going to have a great holiday.
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Thank you and happy Thanksgiving!
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