Happy Thanksgiving

Thanks to Katie Callaghan's mom, I had a lovely, "non-traditional" Thanksgiving dinner last night. Finally, Carolyn (another one...Katie's mom is a Carolyn, too) and I connected in Kathmandu, and we went to her coworker's home for dinner. There were about ten of us, from either the American High School (where Katie's mom works) or the American Embassy. There was one other 'fellow' there, but she was an English Language Fellow, not a Boren Fellow. Everyone brought ethnic dishes and I tried at least a bit of everything. I ate way too much, so I guess that means it was successful. The only thing lacking was a real pumpkin pie... The hosts asked their cook to make a pumpkin pie, and she made something like a quiche that had pumpkin, bacon and onions. It was not quite what everyone had in mind.

The other crazy coincidence, is that I met someone who knows the Murrays (as in, Caroline Murray, my sister-in-law). Dustin, who works at the Embassy, went to college with Caroline's sister, so when I said I was from Elmhurst, and he said he knew Elmhurst and then asked if I knew the Murrays, I was stunned. I first thought, he can't know the Murrays I know... After a few seconds I realized that Katherine and Ryan had told me that had a friend in Kathmandu, and it all made sense. So weird! Such a small world!

One other bit of holiday fun... I got my first package and some birthday cards in the mail today! Yes! Many thanks to my Mom and Julia for sending birthday cards. A special thanks to Katie for the package and card. It was so awesome!!! I'm also glad you didn't put anything expensive or breakable in the box. This is how I got it.



I am certainly thankful for all my family and friends, even though most of you are across the world. I miss you all!