The holidays really are just about family.

Living abroad has given me the opportunity to really understand and appreciate what the holidays are really about. Thanksgiving came and went yesterday in South Korea just like any other day. I went to work; Darius and I had dinner, watched TV, and went to the gym. There was no mountain of Black Friday ads waiting for me at my door, football on the TV, or lively family conversation coming from the other room. There was no smell of deep fried turkey, marshmallows, and pies. So, it wasn't Thanksgiving for me.

That said, Thanksgiving really is about just being with your family, cooking together, eating together, and let's face it, arguing together. The feeling of Thanksgiving cannot be recreated or substituted on any other day it seems. My husband and his family use to gather together every Sunday for an extravagant Sunday dinner worthy to be placed on any Thanksgiving Day dinner table. Depsite this weekly holiday-like dinner, the atmosphere of Thanksgiving Day in the same house with the same people that I have dinner with every week is somehow different. Maybe this is what people mean by the "Holiday spirit"

At any rate, holidays are hard without your family. I have demanded that we celebrate Thanksgiving this weekend, even if it is just the two of us. We will be eating overpriced worth every penny (Thank you Costco) Turkey, green bean casserole, and other food to be determined. Darius and I are on a diet, so no mashed potatoes and gravy will make it on our thanksgiving plate this year.

The other thing I miss is my Christmas Tree. If I were at home, I would be decorating it instead of writing this. Christmas trees are available here, but they are so expensive. Last year I settled for admiring the big Christmas tree located at City Hall, which is right by my house, but this year I'm going to make a better effort to make Christmas feel like Christmas. At least a little bit anyways. I'm thinking of a big paper tree taped on the empty wall in my apartment. I'm sure Darius is just going to love this idea. *sarcasm.

I also miss Christmas Cards, getting them, giving them...I cherish the ones that are sent to me and they are displayed in our apartment just like they would be if we were at home. HINT: Send me CHRISTMAS CARDS!

Even though we will miss three very big family holidays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years, I can be thankful for an American Holiday Tradition that can evoke the same "Holiday Spirit" in February that I WILL be home for...Super Bowl Sunday.