Happy Thanksgiving!!

Perfection. That’s how I would describe last night. I was really worried that I would be super homesick come Thanksgiving because it’s the first time ever that I haven’t been with my family. And I do really miss my parents and my brothers but last night almost made up for it! Matt and Johnny, two friends from UVA, flew over on Saturday for the week so it was already wonderful to have them here! Because we will be in Scotland at a hostel on Thursday, I decided we would have Thanksgiving dinner on Tuesday night. My good friend Phil lives in a house by himself so we ate over there so as not to have to fight over the kitchen in my flat. Cathy and I prepared the food – mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, wheaten bread (had to throw in some Irish culture for Matt and Johnny!), cranberry sauce and chicken (it’s impossible to buy a whole turkey here except around Christmas! Which I was completely okay with because I didn’t feel like roasting it :). Two other close friends, Ally and Julie, came over for dinner as well. After dinner, in traditional Thanksgiving style, we watched A Muppet’s Christmas Carol while sipping warm Winter Berry Cordial and eating hot apple pie. Thanksgiving dinner was a smashing success with the three Irish – they were all soaking up the traditions and claiming they should have been American! As I sat around the living room looking at the six friends there, I could not believe how lucky I was. I was in Northern Ireland, eating Thanksgiving dinner, and spending time with my four best friends from Belfast and two of my best friends from home. Absolutely amazing – words can not express how blessed I am!!

And some random old photos just for fun :)

The IFSA Family at the Guinness Brewery in Dublin

Belfast all lit up for Christmas!