An Azeri Thanksgiving...

So on Thanksgiving Day we had language class as normal. My cluster wanted to do Thanksgiving together but we figured with class and such we wouldn’t have as much time to cook, so we planned Thanksgiving for the next Sunday. After class on Thanksgiving Day the girls went to the market to buy all the stuff we’d need: apples, garlic, onion, carrots, eggplant, etc. Then early Sunday afternoon we all met up at Lexi’s house since it was a convenient location for us to cook and eat (everyone’s amenities are a little different; for example, in my apartment there isn’t room for six people to eat at a table together). We started playing Christmas music and got to work. Lexi had gotten a head start on a few things, but we peeled apples for the apple pie and peeled and cut potatoes and other veggies. It was definitely a balancing act because cooking space was a rare commodity (we could only have one thing in the oven at once) – so the squash went in first, then the veggies, then stuffing/dressing, then warming the chicken (it was much easier to buy pre-cooked), then pasta, and finally the apple pie while we were actually eating. And then there was the stove with the mashed potatoes, fried potatoes and apples. We had huge quantities of food – more than we could have ever eaten, even with Lexi’s host family, who joined us for dinner.

They lingered around during the day and were definitely interested in what we were doing – it was, as the Peace Corps would say, a cultural exchange for them to see what we did – the foods we cook in America and how we do it. There were actually very few things that had to be altered because of being in Azerbaijan – the dressing was missing a few ingredients and we ate chicken instead of turkey because of the cost, but otherwise it was a fairly traditional Thanksgiving meal. And in the meantime, while everything was cooking, there were games played, pictures taken, threading practiced, knitting learned (although on my part it was very short-lived – Lexi’s family kept trying to help and I got too frustrated and gave up for the day) and of course, lots of dishes to be done. It was a full day, and when we finally finished eating it felt like hours later than it actually was.

It was a wonderful day and I’m thankful for the amazing people I got to spend the day with! Even if it wasn’t Thanksgiving at home (no broccoli cheese casserole or football) it still felt like a heartwarming day with as close as I’m going to get to family while I’m here. Who knows, we may have a new tradition on our hands!

Oh, and as an interesting side note: I am now apparently ready to be married because I can prepare an apple pie that impressed Lexi’s host mother (she even asked me for the recipe)!