Experiencing Thanksgiving from the perspective of a Chinese exchange student
It was my first time celebrating Thanksgiving. Before I came to Canada, turkey was the only impression I had for Thanksgiving and images about the holiday were all about an American-style Thanksgiving.
I asked one of my Canadian friends what Canadians usually do on Thanksgiving Day.She suggested I enjoy the outdoors, to admire the spectacular maples in Canada, and of course, to try roast turkey and pumpkin stuffing.I told my Chinese friends at U of G about these suggestions and we decided to take a trip to Algonquin Park.
The cabin we reserved is in a maple forest with a peaceful lake near it. We hiked along the paths, which were covered with yellow and red maple leaves, feeling the spectacular colours of the Canadian autumn. We went boating on the lake at sunset, chasing the last rays of sunshine. We cooked in the cabin with simple cookers, warming our bodies with thick chicken soup. The whole night was so memorable, especially being together.
Fortunately, Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival was on Oct. 4 this year.Like Thanksgiving, it is also a time for family and friends to visit each other. In China, the circle is a symbol of reunion, so a reunion dinner always includes round, sweet mooncakes. I find this point interesting, because in Canada, people also have the tradition to hold a Thanksgiving feast at home, with round pumpkin pie.
Meals like these are so amazing, they give us happiness through enjoying delicious food and strengthening people’s bonds with each other. It seems to be a common fact in both China and Canada.
Thanksgiving Day, for me, is a time to get together with my friends and do interesting activities. We are all thankful for nature, for autumn, and for the chance to meet with each other. I think this is what Thanksgiving taught me: we need to grasp today and show gratefulness to people who are with us.
Image by Frances Esenwa/The Ontarion