Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was for my family was a time for my family to chain together the complexities of Vietnamese food and music and party time to the “simple” traditions of American culture. Every Thanksgiving, we would have a Vietnamese lunch, that consisted of egg drop soup, Vietnamese hot pot, pho, and ceviche salad. Then, once dinnertime hits, the steam from the oven becomes an opener for the juicy, succulent dark turkey. The marinade drips the thighs of the turkey, the vegetables caresses the brine that sat underneath, and the rosemary, thyme, and garlic stimulate the flavor within the turkey.

Alongside the turkey, buttered and fluffy rolls come out, hot and creamy to tie the entire dinner at the start. Then comes the mashed potatoes and sweet potato casserole that provide the sweet but also savory components of the dinner. The marshmallow melts deep into the starchy orange mush while the butter and herbs sit at the top waiting to be melted and served. After that, honey-roasted ham and golden baked stuffing come barging into our plates. The smell of the dinner table becomes immaculate.

But I always wondered why my family tries hard in creating American cuisine rather than focus on the Vietnamese. Could it be the gradual acclimation to American comfort food? Could it be a way to show appreciation after escaping a war-torn country caused by unnecessary militarization? Or could it be that we always eat Vietnamese food every day and Thanksgiving is the one day we can be grateful for accomplishing “part” of the American dream? Or is Thanksgiving a plan to prepare for the holiday seasons that start on Black Friday?

While my family is thankful for the journey and the rewards that they have traveled and experienced with the help of God, I am still learning what I am thankful for. I have yet to unite my Vietnamese culture with my American one. Maybe one day I will embark on this journey that my family has experienced.

Northeastern University Icon
Thanksgiving a Little Differently This Year
Northeastern University Icon
I Might Have Had Astigmatism My Whole Life Without Knowing

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Fill out this field
Fill out this field
Please enter a valid email address.
You need to agree with the terms to proceed