Giving Thanks

I did it!!

I successfully hosted a Thanksgiving dinner for 20 people!

I have been planning this for weeks - I sent out the Evite, I planned the menu, I tested some recipes for pies, checked in with Grandma Naylor about the best way to freeze pies, learned that freezing a pumpkin pie was not a good idea, and this weekend I cooked all the elements of a Thanksgiving dinner that I could given some of the Colombian limitations (no cranberries, no sweet potatoes).

The menu

Appetizers:  

• Ham Rolls ups (family tradition) 
• Crudité with two cream cheese dips (one with bacon and onion; the other with onion soup mix and red pepper)
• Camembert cheese and crackers

Dinner:

• Turkey  
• Stuffing
• Gravy - Thank you Tiffany!  She arrived just in time to help me with this difficult task but I think I could do it on my own now...maybe.
• Vegetable Medley
• Mashed Potatoes
• Squash Casserole (mom's recipe)
• Buttermilk Biscuits (tiffany's recipe)

Dessert:

• Pumpkin Pie
• Apple Crisp
• Whipped Cream 
• Vanilla Ice Cream

 Everyone seemed very happy.  The turkey was so juicy and flavorful.  I've never seen my parents marinate the turkey for Thanksgiving but I decided to stick with recipe that I found and I think I'd recommend it for the future. Soooo tasty!  The most popular item was probably the pumpkin pie because it simply does not exist in Colombia - It was so fun to introduce so many of my friends to this delicious dessert.

The whole event was quite hectic...did I mention there were 20 people in my tiny apartment?!!  Still, I wanted to make sure we didn't completely forget the purpose of Thanksgiving so I made a poster for people to write the things for which they are thankful.  I think it came out well - and it definitely showed the variety of personalities that were visiting. 

Overall, such a great day!  Definitely an event I will want to repeat in the future. 

The Baking Begins

Last year I struggled because I was lacking in close friends here in Bogotá.  Friends I could talk to about anything - friends that would dream with me and sit around a table and talk for hours about life and love.  Of course, some of this was due to my limited ability to speak Spanish, but still it was very lonely at times.  I found myself talking about this last night with folks that have become family and realized just how far I've come and how happy I now am because of the beautiful people in my life.

Thanksgiving is not a holiday in Colombia, but I've decided to bring it to Bogotá and to my friends here.  Thanksgiving is a day to be with friends and family and to reflect on all that you have to be thankful for.  I know how have friends with whom I can share this special day and that's just one of the many things I have to be thankful for.

I've planned the menu and have begun searching for the ingredients.  Today I baked my first pie ever!  It's an apple crisp.  I found the recipe online.  And I think it's going to be delicious!!!

There's something really special about taking the time to plan and prepare a meal for friends.  And I'm hoping that the sharing of the meal and time together will be just as special.

What do I really know?

What do I really know about Colombia?  Turns out not a whole lot.

This evening, as a favor to my friend's cousin, I participated in an interview about my knowledge, opinions, and interpretations of all things Colombia....well, not all things, but certainly a LOT of things.  The interview lasted about an hour and I stumbled non-stop in an attempt to answer questions.  Sadly, however, after a living here more than a year, it turns out there is a LOT I do not know or have not noticed...although some of the questions I also thought were quite bizarre.

What is the national animal?   Apparently it's a condor.  I thought it was a vulture but didn't know the word for vulture in Spanish so I explained that I thought it was bird that eats dead animals.  Lovely.  The interviewer looked at my like I was totally crazy but the camera man nodded and told her I was correct.  After the interview I looked it up - and the condor is a type of vulture. Oh, and the Spanish work for vulture is "el buitre".

What religious rites do Americans practice?  Ummm...well considering the incredibly large number of religions in the U.S. I had a very hard time answering this...in Spanish.  After the interview I suppose I could have mentioned baptism and communion...and perhaps with the ridiculous amount of fighting over the sanctity of marriage and whether or not same sex couples have a right to this ritual, I should have mentioned this as well.  What can I say?  Too much pressure.  I talked about the incredible percentage of people that only attend church for Easter and Christmas.  What a lame response.

Do you think Colombians are optimistic?  Turns out Colombians have a reputation for being optimistic.  I would never have made that generalization on my own - especially because folks out work can be so negative and complain...although I suppose I do a good share of complaining as well.

The questions went on and on.  For every question I could answer, there was a question that I responded to with a blank stare or a "que"?!  It certainly made me realize that I completely unaware of a lot of what is going on around me, it was kind of shameful.  Lesson learned?  I need to open my eyes and start taking in the scenery.  Oof.

Inspiration!

So my last post was more like a diary entry.  Sorry.  But it was on my mind and I'm starting to think that I might have more success if I put my hopes, dreams and goals on this blog, because folks will hold me accountable.  Maybe?  Anyhow, yesterday I had a few inspirational moments and was reminded of another piece of inspiration from the past. So I thought I'd share.

Last night had dinner with a good friend who I hadn't seen in months.  She loves to dream, thinks big, and is constantly encouraging me.  She helps me to see the impossible (or at least terribly daunting) as possible.  We talked about personal goals and professional goals and I came to some conclusions:  1) Yes, I'd like to find someone to share my life with BUT right now I have amazing friends that are filling that void just fine.  2) There is a lot I want to accomplish and I am fully capable of realizing these dreams...just gotta get my butt in gear and not focus on the things that are not going my way.  Really that was it.  (We were so wrapped up in our conversation, I forgot to take a photo. Sorry.)

When I got home, I got into bed and began reading a book that another friend of my recommended.  This guy sends these craaaaazy long e-mails to friends and family every month or so.  They are dense.  Sometimes...ok, most times...I have to skim because he's way more intelligent than me so sometimes what he says is over my head...other times, well, these e-mails are long.  Time is limited.  Anyhow, I take away 2 or 3 gems from every e-mail he sends, even with my skimming method.  It's awesome.  This book was one of the gems.  It's called Spark:  Transform your World, One Small Risk at a Time.

 I suppose it's kind of self-helpy but it is kicking my butt into gear.  Just from one 30 minute session (chapters 1 and 2).  The quote that I read seemed to say exactly what I was feeling when I wrote my last blog:

"I want a life full of rich, rewarding love.  I believe we all do.  We all long for lives that are profoundly, deeply, unexplainably joyful.  And whlie we may not always be aware of it, we have a deep longing to be truly good, to be honorable and compassionate, to be able to look ourselves in the mirror and admire who we see.  We crave kindness.  We admire those who are strong, yet gentle, patient, and in control of their thoughts, attitudes, and actions.
That's the kind of person I want to be."

Me too.

The idea the book presents is that we need to take small risks every day, every week, always in order to  make our lives what we want them to be in the moment.  Planning for the future is not a bad thing but it can drag you down and I know for me give me a constant feeling of slight (or sometimes serious) dissatisfaction.  You have to read the book to really understand what I'm saying - the author has a much better way with words that I do - but just the first two chapters have impacted me.  I've identified my risk for the next week and already put it into motion. Not going to say quite yet what it is  - but will share soon when I have more info on the results.  ;-)

Finally, in addition to identify my healthy risk for the week, I also started making a list of lots of things that I want to do to.  Again, two chapters = inspiration, I couldn't stop brainstorming.  Anyhow, I was reminded of a favorite poster of mine, which I think I've shared before because I'm always saying I don't have enough time.  The poster's advice...no time?  Stop watching tv.  So I've given up the tube for the rest of the month to see where that gets me.

The link to this poster, if you want to buy it.

This might just be another diary entry-like blog post, but perhaps what inspires me will inspire you as well.