Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is just a few days away and I have so much to be thankful for. Today I was speaking to my students about culture, custom and tradition. We focused on Thanksgiving as an American tradition. My students told of how they celebrated Thanksgiving Day and what their family traditions are for this holiday. The question posed to the students: If you were born in another country..... for example China..... would you celebrate Thanksgiving. Of course the answer was NO, but one smart cookie stated if you were an American Citizen in China, you would celebrate Thanksgiving. True, True..... then our conversation spiraled towards the importance of family traditions, customs and culture. My students expressed it was important not to loose sight of "their culture, heritage" and they told how their parents/families incorporated their ethnic foods into the traditional "Thanksgiving Day Feast". They told of Rice and turkey dishes, enchiladas, tamales an so many other dishes (which I couldn't even pronounce) that sounded delicious! MY students asked me what I was having and some thought my "dinner menu" sounded "unusual" very unlike theirs. My students come from a very diverse background and quite a few were not born in the United States and many of their parents we not born in the U.S. These children have assimilated themselves in the traditions of America but moreso have been able to incorporate their heritage, culture and customs into American traditions, ie Thanksgiving Day. My students have been able to do this because of their parents/families and then it occurred to me, I must do the same for my daughter. I know many adoptive parents of Chinese children have incorporated some of the Chinese tradition but I never realized until today how difficult but rewarding this will be. I now realize that not only do I have to teach our daughter "our families traditions" but I have to educate myself, my husband, Logan on Chinese Tradition. Like my students who have assimilated so well into America, I hope my new daughter will have the same sense of security in learning about "our family traditions" and I wish to build the bridge to her Chinese heritage.
Happy Thanksgiving to All,
Xie, Xie (Thank you)
Annette