Thanksgiving is a national holiday that my family and I have been celebrating since I could remember. To give a little back story, my parents immigrated to the United States before their 20s and assimilated well into the American culture, although not with ease. When my sisters and I started school, Thanksgiving was overwhelmingly celebrated by students and faculty. Parents would visit to see the galore of decorations inside the building and Thanksgiving food was served. Festivity echoed everywhere around us, not just at school but throughout our entire town. The Thanksgiving spirit was difficult not to join in on, so my parents soon enough adopted their own tradition that has continued in my family ever since.
Our typical Thanksgiving day consists of helping out with cooking and then going over my grandparents house where my aunt and cousin also live. We mostly feast on the traditional Thanksgiving dishes of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, corn, and more but sometimes there will be an appearance of Korean side dishes like kimchi or other vegetables. Last year was definitely a Thanksgiving I will never forget because my sister brought her friend from college who was unable to go back home for the holiday. It was nice being able to show her what our family does to celebrate and what Thanksgiving means to us. Her friend, being a good cook, made us deviled eggs which was a great addition to our meal. It was also the first time I contributed my own dish to the table. Although it didn’t come out how I visioned, my baked mac and cheese blended in perfectly with the other dishes.
Being away from home as I attend college has made me even more grateful for my family and Thanksgiving is just another reminder to do so. My family has consistently been my support system. They are who have shaped me into the person I am and are constantly pushing me to be better and to dream bigger. As Thanksgiving comes around the corner, I am as excited as could be about the food, but the company is what makes it the holiday that it is.
