What is the Meaning of Thanksgiving?

สวัสดี ครับ!!! I hope everyone is looking forward to your

trip to the US!

Since you're coming in November, you'll probably hear people talking about "Thanksgiving."

So...what is the meaning of Thanksgiving? 

Well, for most of Americans, it is a day that families get together and eat lots of food: turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, seven layer salad, cranberry sauce, honeyed ham. Usually, you spend this day eating food, drinking wine, and hanging out with either just your close family (mother, father, siblings) or, sometimes, your extended family (grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.). The meal is usually served around midday - about 2pm or 3pm. A lot of families also have a tradition of each person saying something they are thankful for this year just prior to the meal being served.

The history of Thanksgiving, however, is a little bit more complicated. Children are taught in schools that when the first pilgrims sailed to America in the late 1400s, early 1500s, they of course met the Native Americans (Indians). The Native Americans taught the pilgrims how to plant corn and other things. One of the things the Native Americans did was to sit down with these early pilgrims and share their meals - thus Thanksgiving was born.

Of course, this didn't really happen. Basically, Europeans came and took the land from the Native Americans, killing thousands in battle but killing even more with diseases like small pox to which the Native Americans had never been exposed. Eventually, the different Native American tribes surrendered and were given pieces of land called "Reservations" where they could still practice the traditions of their culture without European/American influence.

This is still mostly true today: many Native American still grow up or live on Reservations, though many also live in US cities and abroad. 

There are no real decorations for Thanksgiving, though you might see some turkey pictures hanging in storefronts. Over the last 15-20 years, however, the day after Thanksgiving - and, more and more, Thanksgiving day too!

- have become huge sale days. The day after Thanksgiving is called "Black Friday" because, initially, there were a lot of traffic accidents and violence in stores because of all the sales being offered. I've gone shopping during Black

Friday and it wasn't crazy like that anymore, so I think the violence – people being mean to one another because a store had only so many of whatever they both wanted, so people would get into fights right there in the store - has

basically stopped. It is still VERY busy. So many people!!! I like to stay in on Black Friday and watch TV or hang out with my family.

So, that's what modern Thanksgiving is in the US, with a bit of the complicated history behind its origins.

I'll see all of you next Friday! It's going to be a lot of fun!!!

Sincerely,

P'Mee (Dustin)

The Windy City

Hello everyone!

With any luck, you won't have to deal with the cold and wind and rain all at once or at all! But...it is Chicago and, chances are, you will. 5555.Chicago's nickname is The Windy City and, although that nickname actually stems from the corrupt politicians Chicago is known for, it is also a very good descriptor of the weather here.

So,  I think it's important to get a few tips on handling the wind in Chicago.

You all will be arriving during the season when the weather is still changing, so it shouldn't be too cold yet. And by "too cold" I mean that the high each day will be about 8 degrees Celsius and the low will be around 3 or 4 degrees. It's best to make sure you have long pants and, if you're going to wear a skirt or a dress, I highly recommend also wearing leggings or knee-length socks. You're going to want at least a light to medium jacket - something that will keep the worst of the wind out. Short-sleeved shirts are okay if you have a jacket on when outside but most Chicagoans have switched to sweaters, long-sleeved shirts, and more wintry wear. I've seen people with stocking hats on and wrapped up in scarves already on some days. In fact, I recommend having a scarf ready just in case. I haven't used one yet this year but I don't get cold easily. The scarf will protect against the wind.

The wind won't be so bad near the hostel where you're staying in Chicago. It is most fierce downtown by the lake. Shopping on Michigan Ave. or State St. may get windy. Again, sometimes it's fine and the wind isn't bad, and it's sunny and even kind of warm, but it's always better to be prepared!

See you all soon!!!

Sincerely,
P'Mee (Dustin)