It was a Fulbright Thanksgiving. A potluck dinner of staff, Fulbrighters, and former Fulbrighters in replete with all the traditional dishes plus some 'heritage' creations (mmm Indian food) at the Fulbright house in Amman. The food was great. There were three pumpkin pies. After a failed attempt to round up enough ingredients for cornbread in Thanksgiving-unfriendly Irbid (note: corn flour is not the same thing as corn meal apparently), I went with the never-fails fruit and walnut salad. It didn't fail to be eaten either, even amid stiff competition on the dessert table.
It was good to connect with my estranged Fulbright colleagues in Amman, and I spent that night hanging out in Amman and the next morning playing some good 'ol American football in Hussein park with a hodge-podge of ex-pats (mostly working for the UN or on development projects). We drew a small crowd of Jordanians who paused from their soccer games to take in the strange spectacle--I'm sure the ideas of a 5 Mississippi blitz count and button-hook routes didn't translate well.
Beyond the turkey dinner and football, there are many things I was thankful for on this holiday away from home.
Being here
Being young
The support of my loving family and friends
The technology that enables me to stay in touch with all of them
The Fulbright scholarship that is making this whole experience possible
The hospitality and generosity of my host society
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