Yes, this is celebrating Java teen-style. Thankfully they skipped the egging and dousing with water.
My
students didn't know what Thanksgiving was until I explained in an
earlier class that it was my favorite holiday in the US, and I was a
little sad I'd be missing it with my family for the second year in a
row. Naturally, my class took that as a cue to take over our next English lesson and throw me a Thanksgiving party, complete with handmade cards and pizza. The pizza was drawn on the whiteboard, of course, but it was my own enjoyable version of a cartoon jelly bean and popcorn feast!
As I listened to Luluk's thank-you speech in English and took video of Sundari singing me a song, I caught myself thinking to a future time when I'd be eating mashed potatoes and endless desserts around the family dinner table once again.
But, little did I know, back in that moment surrounded by students going out of their way to make me happy - that on Thanksgiving Days to come - while sitting around the dinner table I once couldn't wait to get to...I'd be thinking back to that day and missing them.
And occasionally still finding bits of that deadly confetti in my bag.
I'm so thankful today and every day for all of my students, family, and friends in Padangan. "This love will last forever."
Selamat Hari Pengucapan Syukur!
