Thanksgiving 2008. :)

Okay... So Thanksgiving this year was a little different... for all of us. Although we were not able to spend it with our friends and family back home; we were able to spend it with new friends, neighbors, and people who turned into family. It was truly a Thanksgiving I will always remember. The day began around 3pm and we didn't get to bed until near 4am! What a day.. Let me take you through it with some pictures & details.. Hope your Thanksgiving was truly as great as ours :)

First it all began when students from a near-by town (Gaillac) came. They attend a school of wine. They will be in the wine business, one day. Most of them were our age. They gave a presentation on wine and we ended up having a wine tasting! It was a lot of fun. We, also, gave a presentation on the wine exports and imports in the U.S. and in Pennsylvania.

Here is a picture of all the wine students & us American students :)

The two guys are professors from Giallac and that's Sandrine in the middle, one of our professors :)

White Wine Vs. Red Wine!

Here is the table!!!

Everyone gathered around as Gerry gave a speech.

We had around 40 people here. As you can see, everyone is going to get food! We had 3 turkeys. Unfortunately, I did not partake on the turkey :( haha. But Tim did find me some meatballs! THANK YOU!! :) :) It was set up buffet style so everyone could help themselves. It really worked out perfectly!

Here are some of our neighbors and friends that we have met throughout the past 3 months.

Here are the Wine Students!

Our friends from Albi! We were so glad they could make it!! We had such a GREAT time!!
For some of them, this was their first Thanksgiving!

Ohhh me & Gerry :) We matched that night, yano! haha

Teddy A.K.A. the new James Blunt. He practiced all week preparing for this.. You did GREAT TEDDY!!!! :) :) :)

Nadine & the Mayor. He really enjoys playing that guitar. She basically had to force him to go home! He likes to play George Straight (famous country singer back home). Teddy knows all the words so they make a good pair! haha. When the Mayor sings, you would think he can speak English very well, but believe it or not...he doesn't! Nadine will speak a little English with us, but she likes to test us on our French when we go to her cafe and eat :)

Here, John, Peter, and Margret are singing Christmas carols. We explained to many of the French that right after Thanksgiving everyone starts to prepare for Christmas. The girls from Albi couldn't believe that! Some of the carols sounded familiar to them; but they have never heard them in English. It made for a good time and great conversation learning about both cultures :)

The Mayor playing..again! :) hehe. Along with Tim singing! :)

Two of the girls from Albi and a history student from Albi, as well, were singing some comman French songs.
All of you have great voices!!

hahaha. Jim carved a pumpkin and thought it would be fun to make it...his face!

They pick up on the "goofy face" pretty well ;) This is Sandra and Christiane. You girls are too much fun!

Here is a good one of me and all the girls. They stayed later...well, til 2:30am! We had a blast singing and just being silly! Here it is me, Christiane is on the floor. Marjolaine (spelling??) is beside me in the black shirt. Lucie is in the wayy back. Sandy is in the white shirt. And Sandra is on the far right. They are such a fun group of girls to hang out with! Sometimes they will start speaking French.. and when I don't understand I go "wait wait wait.. what did you say?" and they will translate everything for me :)

Me, the girls, Jim and John, and two boys who are studying history at the University of Albi
(which is the same school the girls go to).

This Thanksgiving has been one that will be remembered forever. It was such a great night of eating, laughing, singing, and being silly. Thank you all for attending and making it such a great day!!! :) :) Hope yours was just as great!

God Bless.. see you all soon!!