La La La

Happy Thanksgiving! *La*La*La*

It's time for my second Thanksgiving in the ROK, and even though I'm thankful for these things every day of the year, I'd like to put it in writing this Thanksgiving. So, in no particular order (well, not really), here is my list:

I'm thankful for my family. That's pretty general, so let me be more specific. I'm thankful to have such wonderful parents who did a pretty good job of raising me. They're pretty awesome. I'm thankful for my sister and brother in law, who also live over here in the ROK, and to be able to see them pretty much whenever. I'm thankful to have the wonderful grandmother that I do, too, and also to have all of my aunts, uncles, cousins, second cousins, great aunts, great uncles, and everyone else. Love and miss you all.

I'm thankful for my friends. I've made some pretty good friends over the past few years, and whether you're here in Korea, traveling the world elsewhere, or at home in the states, wherever that may be, you know who you are and you're awesome, too.

While I wish I could be home with my family this year because I miss them like crazy, I am thankful for my Korean family, which includes some of my actual family as well as some close friends.

I'm thankful for the health of everyone I know, and for the inspirationally positive spirits that are helping bring back the health for others.

I'm thankful to be living overseas, to be experiencing something different for myself. I'm thankful that I was able to take myself to Greece this year, and that I'm taking myself to Australia in May. I'm thankful to have a good job to pay for it. I'm thankful to be a performed playwright and to see my play come to life on stage in a few weeks. I'm thankful for all the people that support me.

Thanksgiving is a holiday that, at home, means a 4-day vacation, seeing the family, and avoiding shopping areas and insane crowds. In Korea, it means working on November 22 and 23, normal hours, because it's not a holiday here, no terrible crowds (unless you hit Costco, which is always Black-Friday-esque on weekends, any time of year), and no discount shopping. I will still be savoring two traditions, though: The first, seeing some of my actual family (sister and b-i-l), and the second, watching the Gators beat FSU on Saturday night (Sunday morning Korea-time).

It's great to be a Florida Gator, even in the ROK!

Go Gators!