Spending the Holidays Abroad
03. Dec, 2008 
16 Comments
Surreal. I’m walking through the streets of Puerto Vallarta and someone stops me. Inwardly I sigh, expecting yet another sales pitch (You want braids? You want bracelet? How about massage). Instead he says, “Are you American?” I say yes and take a step to walk away. “When is Thanksgiving? “ It’s tomorrow I tell him, and he hits his buddy on the arm as to say, “See I told you”.
Until he asked, I had forgotten. Last week, I flew to Mexico. I didn’t tell you about that, but I did. And I’m traveling solo. In a whirlwind of events in the preceding weeks, everything changed. There was the house my father in law owns in Vermont. There were tenants that had to go. There was my husband, feeling every bit the responsible son, and determined to help out. And there was me, travel plans ready, husband insistent I don’t waste the opportunities I have.
Truth be told, I didn’t want to waste them either.
And I had forgotten all about Thanksgiving. Perhaps I was distracted. Or perhaps it was the lack of constant reminders—the commercials, the traditional foods conveniently placed forefront in every store, your friends, family, and strangers all asking: So, what are you doing for Thanksgiving. This year the answer was spending a week in Puerto Vallarta and trying to figure out my new plan. And on Thanksgiving day, I caught a 20 hour bus to Acapulco.
I’ll be spending Christmas with a family in Guatemala. Not my family, but a family associated with the language school in Quetzaltenango. And after I’ll be heading further south. My husband will meet up with me at some point, or I’ll fly home to visit.
I am so thankful that I still get to do this trip, even if it’s not to plan. But when someone on the street asked me about Thanksgiving, it startled me a little. It reminded me of the reality… I was really in Mexico, and everyone else was far away doing something else. Do the first few days back on the road always feel slightly like a dream? You leave chilly New England, with snow already falling, and 6 hours later you wake up in 85 degree humidity and sunshine. All that Spanish you were sure you forgot, comes flooding back. You’re lost, trying to figure out what bus to take. You’re dehydrated, sitting on the beach, enjoying the view. You’re meeting up with people at the hostel who talk about coming from Australia or Japan or Canada. They want to drink Tequila. Ok, just a little.
The last night in Puerto Vallarta, I was sitting on the porch with my laptop and a dozen Mexican kids come running over. It’s 8 PM and they’re noisily playing some version of tag. They are using me and my table as cover. We talk in Spanish. I try to teach them some English words, and they proudly inform me they already know Good Morning and Thank You. One of the hostel staff asks me, “Are the kids playing with you?” I laugh and nod and the kids screech and run away.
While everyone I know back home is prepping turkeys and baking apple pies or visiting with friends on the night before Thanksgiving, I’m entertaining some kids with my limited Spanish. It’s not traditional, but I’ll take it.
I saw on Twitter that you were catching a bus and wondered ‘what the heck – where is the car, the husband, the dogs?’. Now I see. You are a perfect example of not always adhering to Plan A – adapt, adapt, adapt. Enjoy the heat!!
Gillian´s last blog post..Woot…Wooot…Holler!!!
You are so cool.
Tina´s last blog post..My Thanksgiving Dinner
Hey there!
Had the same experience here in Buenos Aires. Between spring flowers, outdoor cafes, summery fruits, and river trips, this isn’t the traditional Thanksgiving. Would I trade it? Not for the world.
Enjoy!
Happy Travels!
IGoBuenosAires´s last blog post..Buenos Aires City Guide
Loved that last sentence. I just posted about my own version of Thanksgiving abroad – I did do the “traditional” dinner since I’m here on a more permanent basis, but of course it’s never quite the same as being at home (and there are always some ingredients you just can’t find). Glad you still get to enjoy adventures in Mexico, hope your husband can join you soon!
Emily´s last blog post..Expat Thanksgiving
Sounds like a helluva way to spend the holidays!
Zach´s last blog post..Behold the renovated (again) ZachEverson.com–feedback appreciated!
American style Thanksgiving dinner in Hong Kong… http://gallery.johndbritton.com/v/2008/china/hong_kong/thanksgiving
Finally some comfort foods!
johndbritton´s last blog post..Enrolled in David Wiley’s Introduction to Open Education 2009 Course
Up in Pátzcuaro, we had 35-40 people for Thanksgiving, Mexicans and (mostly) Americans. Everybody brought food; at least one person commented it was her best Thanksgiving ever. This was a fraction of the number we could have invited; ironically we’ve been here about the same amount of time we lived in Spokane – and after that time there, we would not have been able to come up with even 30 people to invite.
Same here. When someone asked me to to do something on that Thursday, I totally forgot it was Thanksgiving. Even back in the States, I was too far from home to make a feasible trip to see the parents for the holiday, but I was always quite aware of it. Maybe now the difference is that I’m surrounded by people who don’t know the holiday or have accepted that Thanksgiving doesn’t exist in Korea.
Thank goodness for Skype, though. I still managed to talk to my parents and some other relatives, so it turned out pretty much like the past five Thanksgivings at school.
Daniel´s last blog post..A social experiment in economics
Well, you know what they say in the Army:
‘The most careful plans rarely survive first contact with the enemy’
I think I’m going to enjoy reading about this trip because it’s all so spontaneous … it just happens!
Keith´s last blog post..More About Audio Guides
sounds like a lovely way to spend the holidays! I hope your travels are going well
A´s last blog post..Love love love
I’d take unexpected travel plans and kids playing tag over dry turkey any day!
Fly Girl´s last blog post..A Taste of Harlem and Passports With A Purpose
Somehow the lesser planned holidays always turn out better than the overly orchestrated, aunts/uncles, cousins, cousins twice removed affairs.
Your attitude says it all…sounds like a wonderful way to spend thanksgiving.
Sean Lannin´s last blog post..Thanksgiving in Ecuador
any recommendations to help with it?
So sorry we will miss you in P.V.! My hubby, Dick, and I live onboard our sailboat, Last Resort, and are currently in Mazatlan. We’ll head for P.V. shortly. Although I have a trip to Germany scheduled for Dec. 15-25, if we’re ever in the same city I’d love to buy you a glass of vino! I think your writing is wonderful and your courage is awe-inspiring. Safe travels! –Sharon Drechsler, XO, S/V Last Resort