Living in Malta:

                       The First Thanksgiving

 

                          This is what we did not have in Malta

 

It was OK.  It was better than I thought once the day was here.  I had anticipated being very tearful, being away from my kids and brother for the first time. Thanksgiving was always my favorite holiday. But turkeys are not readily available in Europe; they are mostly native to North America.

 

But is was...OK. Mr. S is here for a few days and that helped a lot, of course.  We had stuffed chicken breast (which seemed like a turkey to me), sweet potatoes (which Mr. S won't eat because they actually have nutritional value), cranberry juice--and SKYPE for dessert.

 

Yes, SKYPE.

For those of you who haven't tried it, Skype is a free Internet program, allowing you to call people far away and see and talk to them by video.  It works pretty much as chatting online.  If you talk with someone else who has Skype, it's free--no matter where you call in the world.  And for a small amount, such as 2 cents a minute, you can call people who don't have Skype--either their landline phone or their cell phone.

 

Most expats have discovered Skype, and say they could not do without it.  It keeps you in close contact with your family and friends 3000 or more miles away.

 

This time, Skype beat the chocolate pudding and apple pie with whipped cream I would have had at Thanksgiving dinner with my brother and kids.  I could talk to them and feel a part of their lives on the holiday. I knew they were happy with their father's family.

 

But I could feel myself making a mental choice:  I could let myself get upset about not being there for Thanksgiving--or I could let it go and enjoy what I did have: being in a place I love (Malta) and being in close contact with people I love--my girls.  So I let it go and had a good time. I know this won't always be the case, but it was this time.

 

(Confession: When Mr. S went to bed after all that cooking, I sneaked in a half-pint of Haagen Dazs Strawberry Cheesecake.  I only ate a half-pint because I hate strawberry.)

Comments

[Sennuwy (an ancient Egyptian name)]

Hi Dee, Skype is like a wonder to me. of course, now that I got the hang of it, my kids are telling me it stinks and that something else is better--like MSN. But I'm sticking with Skype now because I can work it---Ilene

[Dee Owen]

Yea, we love Skype too! Keeps us in touch with folks in England and USA and even here. Better than using cell phone minutes!

[Sennuwy (an ancient Egyptian name)]

I guess you REALLY like Skype, huh Steven? :-) Ilene

[Steve Holmes]

Yes Skype is a god send, wonderful software and an essential tool for the expat.

Skype: steveingozo

[Steve Holmes]

Absolutly true from the expat view, Skype is a god send, wonderful software.
Give me a call
Skype:
steveingozo