Friday, November 25, 2005
A German Thanksgiving: Part 1
It all started out with an ambitious goal: Thanksgiving in Germany. We planned to have the traditional foods that would require us to labor all day in the kitchen, breaking only to attend class. It ended up being the most unique Thanksgiving ever.
Brittany and I held a planning session. We wanted Thanksgiving and knew without some major initiative by us it wouldn't happen. The deal was set and Thanksgiving would happen: I was responsible for a turkey, she would make an apple pie and noodles, and other people would bring/buy something for the dinner. Even better was the fact that our study abroad coordinator/advisor/leader from the US, Dr. H. P. Bischof was here for the week and could attend the dinner.
Having been in Germany for a while now, my German has improved quite a bit. I ordered a 5 kg (~11lbs) turkey in the Fleischerei (butcher shop) without too much of a problem. There did seem to be a bit of a disagreement over whether I wanted Puten or Truthahn, but it turned out that they are really the same thing.
On Wednesday I picked up the turkey from the butcher and was dismayed that they gave me a nearly completely clear bag to carry the turkey in. Then charged me ?33.31. Turkey is rarely eaten in Germany except in cold-cut form. Here I was carrying a giant, slightly blood, bird down the street in a plastic bag. I got quite a few odd looks and the kid on the bus across from me was certainly amused by its size.
Brittany prepared a pie crust for apple pie on Wednesday as well and going into Thursday we were ready to cook...
Brittany and I held a planning session. We wanted Thanksgiving and knew without some major initiative by us it wouldn't happen. The deal was set and Thanksgiving would happen: I was responsible for a turkey, she would make an apple pie and noodles, and other people would bring/buy something for the dinner. Even better was the fact that our study abroad coordinator/advisor/leader from the US, Dr. H. P. Bischof was here for the week and could attend the dinner.
Having been in Germany for a while now, my German has improved quite a bit. I ordered a 5 kg (~11lbs) turkey in the Fleischerei (butcher shop) without too much of a problem. There did seem to be a bit of a disagreement over whether I wanted Puten or Truthahn, but it turned out that they are really the same thing.
On Wednesday I picked up the turkey from the butcher and was dismayed that they gave me a nearly completely clear bag to carry the turkey in. Then charged me ?33.31. Turkey is rarely eaten in Germany except in cold-cut form. Here I was carrying a giant, slightly blood, bird down the street in a plastic bag. I got quite a few odd looks and the kid on the bus across from me was certainly amused by its size.
Brittany prepared a pie crust for apple pie on Wednesday as well and going into Thursday we were ready to cook...
