Spending a holiday away from family is never easy, but our
Thai family gave us a Thanksgiving we will never forget. The evening began with
a group effort to prepare a feast consisting of regional Thai cuisine and
improvised Thanksgiving favorites. We had pad-mi, curry, and green papaya salad
alongside sweet potato fries, Thai pumpkin, and even a few turkeys.
The overwhelming amount of food matched the generosity and
hospitality of the village. Dressed in traditional Thai clothing provided by
our SUT brothers and sisters, we were honored with a blessing ceremony led by
the village elders. As we sat in one communal circle, the village elders slowly
approached each one of us to tie white strings on our wrists, bestowing upon us
wishes of good luck, health, safe travels, and future success. We did not need
to understand their language to feel their well-wishes as they tied each
string, blessing us as if we were their own family.
After we overindulged in the delicious feast, we exchanged
performances with our SUT brothers and sisters. The SUT students performed
beautiful traditional Thai dances, while we brought some American flair via the
Cha Cha Slide and the Michigan Fight Song. We also discussed the history of
Thanksgiving and in the true spirit of the holiday, gave our heartfelt thanks
to everyone who contributed to our success over the last two weeks.
We are thankful for our SUT brothers and sisters; for their
kindness, encouragement, and their much-appreciated translation skills.
We are thankful for our faculty members who helped guide our
interactions with patients and each other.
We are thankful for our clinic workers, who provided us with
a new perspective in health care delivery.
We are thankful for the village residents, who welcomed us
into their homes and hearts without blinking an eye.
The story of Thanksgiving emphasizes blending of traditions
and gratitude for each other. Our gathering was the perfect farewell to our
incredible cross-cultural experience.
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