A Belated Thanksgiving with the Fulbright Crew

As the fourth Thursday of November approached, the Afyon Fulbrighters eagerly planned a Thanksgiving get-together. We started with humble intentions and a grocery list, but like passengers pushing a stalled-out car down a hill, momentum soon had us speeding down a highway. A stuffing and cranberry sauce highway.

Planning began two weeks ago when we settled on a menu. Traditional American fare was achieved through slight recipe tweaks and extensive shop-scouring. Buffet-style we served:

• Turkey
• Mashed potatoes
• Carrots
• Green bean casserole
• Stuffing
• Rice
• Vegetable soup
• Cranberry sauce

Getting a turkey was not just a priority, but a necessity. Turks don't eat the bird their country shares a name with until New Years, so many butchers shook their heads when we when we asked, "Hindi var mi?" We found turkey breasts and legs, so logic and reason told us that somewhere there must be a still-intact turkey, right? Wrong. Our mission proved impossible. Apparently, these birds are dismantled in Istanbul and arrive in Afyon butchered. Roasted turkey breasts were a suitable and delicious alternative.

The chef and his creations

 

 

Just a fraction of the feast

Twenty-three of us squeezed into our apartment's living room taking care to support our strained plastic plates. Many of our friends hadn't seen each other since orientation in September, so teaching and travel story-swapping dominated conversation. It wasn't long before we found common threads in our experiences. Everyone seemed to have similar struggles with frustratingly low student enthusiasm, with unreliable bus companies, and with generous colleagues/neighbors/strangers.

It was nice to show off Afyon to the others. I find myself forgetting that the imposing castle atop its craggy rock is really beautiful sometimes. And our proximity to a 5M Migros is beyond a blessing, because it gives us access to some Western foods that many have to do without. This weekend has renewed my appreciation for Afyon.

Mid-chew shot of the group

Shoes come off before entering Turkish households. Quite the pile.

It felt good to kick off the holiday season with good friends. Mugla Fulbrighters will be hosting a true winter holiday event in a few weeks, so we will keep basking in the glow of Thanksgiving until then.