Do you have one, extra special Thanksgiving memory? The Thanksgiving I spent in Costa Rica my senior year in college, hands down, shoots to the top of my list. I had been eating rice and beans daily for months never suspecting I’d have the opportunity to sink my teeth into a drumstick, or drown myself in mashed potatoes and gravy.
But the Lord of the harvest had other plans for me that day. Not only did I celebrate Thanksgiving, I dug into turkey and stuffing like a hungry pilgrim with family I didn’t even know I had! Let me explain.
Unusual Name Sparks Discovery
I have a really unusual maiden name. So when my dad’s cousin, whom I had never even met before, happened to see my name written on a Spanish paper sitting on a desk in her classroom, she decided to investigate.
It turned out we were both studying in the same language center in Costa Rica. I studied there for my study abroad program, and she and the rest of her family studied there as part of their missionary training program.
My cousin asked her husband Doug to find me before class one day. So he tracked me down to discuss family lines, and two minutes later…BINGO! I had relatives in Costa Rica! It turned out they only lived a mile from my host home.
It was such a special connection. My dad even stayed at their house when he came to visit me in Costa Rica. We had so much fun.
And when November rolled around, I found myself in their home seated around a very long table with turkey, stuffing, and cranberries replacing the usual rice and beans. I even remember the place card that marked my spot at the table on the Thanksgiving I never thought I’d celebrate! Just thinking about it makes me want to eat some pumpkin pie.
This memory is also the kick in the pants that I need to get going on plans for this year. And yes, as Mommy Maleta, my plans include finding Thanksgiving activities in Spanish for my kids.
Go Gish Game In Spanish
Thankfully, Debbie Annett, is helping me cross this item off my Thanksgiving To Do list quickly because she has already developed a fun Go Fish game in Spanish. You can get the game FREE with any Spanish For You Purchase of $12.95 and up. Just use the coupon code FREEFISH. (Be sure to add all items to your cart including the Go Fish game, and then use the discount code. This will remove the charge for the game)
I also recommend subscribing to Debbie’s Spanish For You newsletter. This way you’ll be the first to know about her free Spanish mini-lessons and other great content releases. And bonus, signing up is a lot faster than cooking your Thanksgiving bird. : )
Did this trip down memory lane spark any of your Thanksgiving memories? Let me know in the comment section.
Can’t believe this story! What were the chances? Thank you for sharing. It was a fun read!!