Thanksgiving Dinner

I didn't think it would be possible this year, but I actually got to celebrate Thanksgiving! Yesterday around noon, all 9 exchange students from Guayaquil, and 4 others from Machala and Ambato who took a plane here, gathered at the house of one of the exchange students to cook ourselves a traditional thanksgiving meal. We made the turkey, mashed potatoes, a LOT of cooked veggies, apple pie with ice cream and pumpkin pie, thanks to my friend who thought ahead and brought a can of pumpkin with him to Ecuador for this day, knowing that they don't sell it here in the grocery store. They also don't sell stuffing or cranberry sauce here either, so we didn't have that with our meal, but it was still really good! While we were cooking the food, a red Macaw casually walked into the kitchen, which we all thought was amazing and were taking as many pictures of it as we could. The family explain that a few years ago this bird came to their house and they fed it, and every single day since it keeps coming back for the food, and pretty much lives with them.

 We all went around and said what we're thankful for, and we all pretty much said the same thing: our host families, friends, families back home for being so supportive of us, and the food. 2 of the exchange students are from Germany, and also 2 from France, so their first Thanksgiving diner ever was in Ecuador! After eating our meal, we played some music on the guitar than all went swimming for a bit! I had to leave early, around 9:30 because I had school the next day, but it was definitely a Thanksgiving I will never forget.