American Tradition on the Other Side of the Pond
We all gathered at the Dickinson Center Thursday, November 25th, to celebrate Thanksgiving. It’s a very special occasion for all of us, as it was like we were at home in the United States. I imagine that I’m not the only one used to spending Thanksgiving vacation with my family. It was really nice to be able to be together in a country that doesn’t know about this tradition. The French students in my classes were surprised that we get a day off in the United States.
The evening started in the basement of the Dickinson Center. The atmosphere was very pleasant; we drank champagne and made conversation while waiting for the meal. Then, we went upstairs and we found two tables set for dinner. We all filled our plates with lots of food: there were turkey, green beans, mashed potatoes and other typical American dishes. There were also a few guests among us; some of us had invited their friends and family. At the end of the meal, we enjoyed delicious desserts prepared by the students.
–Nicolas Garzon
Reflections on Thanksgiving in France
The La Une team wanted to know how Americans experience Thanksgiving in France. Two members of our team, Anna Ciriani Dean et Qichan Qian, took advantage of the evening to discuss with the guests. Here is how we lived this holiday in Toulouse.
QUESTIONS :
What feelings does the idea of spending Thanksgiving in France evoke for you?
What does your host family think of Thanksgiving?
Why is it important to celebrate Thanksgiving as Americans in France?
What does Thanksgiving mean to you?
What aspects of American culture does Thanksgiving evoke?
If Thanksgiving existed in France, what would the French eat?
How would the French celebrate such a holiday?
ANSWERS :
Makeda Jones : “It’s a new experience. It’s the first time I’ve celebrated Thanksgiving aways from my family. My host mom loves Thanksgiving. Although it’s not a French holiday, she’s already been to the United States. My host sister also loves Thanksgiving because she thinks that the idea behind it is great.”
Cayla Cantafio: “It’s a nice experience for me, especially with my grandparents visiting”
Leigh Harlow: Thanksgiving is an “important holiday” to “celebrate the people that are significant in my life” like “my family and my friends.”
Alex Drapac: It’s important to celebrate it “with the French to show the importance of our American culture.” It’s a “family reunion,” “the significance of the meal” is important.
Becky Payne: “They would eat “cassoulet or blanquette” if Thanksgiving were a French holiday. “There’s no way to know, we haven’t experienced any big holidays in France yet” that are as important as Thanksgiving to make a comparison.
Gabby Betances: They would eat “duck, filet, sausage, cheese…”
Yana Schick: For me, Thanksgiving means “Food! Big plates of food! My family isn’t very traditional,” but I think that French culture is similar because we get together and eat a lot…we spend time with our family,” which is a tradition in both cultures.
Mme Raynaud: “You can’t ignore Thanksgiving…it’s a part of American identity. It’s a sad moment here because you aren’t with your family; but we get together with our family here,” the students and the Dickinson team.
Mme Toux: When I was in the United States for Thanksgiving, I was “miserable” because I was “a foreigner. The streets are empty, you feel alone and you understand that it’s an important family holiday like Christmas in France. It’s really what brings Americans together…a moment of sharing.”
Sam Richardson: Thanksgiving is an “opportunity to be with the people who are important in your life and to eat American food, which is often difficult to do in France. It’s weird because it’s so important in the US. The French don’t care because it means nothing to them.”
Sarah Wright: “Thanksgiving shows the similarities between the two cultures: you spend time with the family, you share a meal…the only difference is that the French eat cheese and drink wine.”
Sarah Wright : « la fête de Thanksgiving montre des similarités entre les deux cultures : on passe du temps avec la famille, on partage un repas…la seule différence est qu’on mange du fromage et que l’on boit du vin ».
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American Tradition on the Other Side of the Pond
We all gathered at the Dickinson Center Thursday, November 25th, to celebrate Thanksgiving. It’s a very special occasion for all of us, as it was like we were at home in the United States. I imagine that I’m not the only one used to spending Thanksgiving vacation with my family. It was really nice to be able to be together in a country that doesn’t know about this tradition. The French students in my classes were surprised that we get a day off in the United States.
The evening started in the basement of the Dickinson Center. The atmosphere was very pleasant; we drank champagne and made conversation while waiting for the meal. Then, we went upstairs and we found two tables set for dinner. We all filled our plates with lots of food: there were turkey, green beans, mashed potatoes and other typical American dishes. There were also a few guests among us; some of us had invited their friends and family. At the end of the meal, we enjoyed delicious desserts prepared by the students.
–Nicolas Garzon
Reflections on Thanksgiving in France
The La Une team wanted to know how Americans experience Thanksgiving in France. Two members of our team, Anna Ciriani Dean et Qichan Qian, took advantage of the evening to discuss with the guests. Here is how we lived this holiday in Toulouse.
QUESTIONS :
What feelings does the idea of spending Thanksgiving in France evoke for you?
What does your host family think of Thanksgiving?
Why is it important to celebrate Thanksgiving as Americans in France?
What does Thanksgiving mean to you?
What aspects of American culture does Thanksgiving evoke?
If Thanksgiving existed in France, what would the French eat?
How would the French celebrate such a holiday?
ANSWERS :
Makeda Jones : “It’s a new experience. It’s the first time I’ve celebrated Thanksgiving aways from my family. My host mom loves Thanksgiving. Although it’s not a French holiday, she’s already been to the United States. My host sister also loves Thanksgiving because she thinks that the idea behind it is great.”
Cayla Cantafio: “It’s a nice experience for me, especially with my grandparents visiting”
Leigh Harlow: Thanksgiving is an “important holiday” to “celebrate the people that are significant in my life” like “my family and my friends.”
Alex Drapac: It’s important to celebrate it “with the French to show the importance of our American culture.” It’s a “family reunion,” “the significance of the meal” is important.
Becky Payne: “They would eat “cassoulet or blanquette” if Thanksgiving were a French holiday. “There’s no way to know, we haven’t experienced any big holidays in France yet” that are as important as Thanksgiving to make a comparison.
Gabby Betances: They would eat “duck, filet, sausage, cheese…”
Yana Schick: For me, Thanksgiving means “Food! Big plates of food! My family isn’t very traditional,” but I think that French culture is similar because we get together and eat a lot…we spend time with our family,” which is a tradition in both cultures.
Mme Raynaud: “You can’t ignore Thanksgiving…it’s a part of American identity. It’s a sad moment here because you aren’t with your family; but we get together with our family here,” the students and the Dickinson team.
Mme Toux: When I was in the United States for Thanksgiving, I was “miserable” because I was “a foreigner. The streets are empty, you feel alone and you understand that it’s an important family holiday like Christmas in France. It’s really what brings Americans together…a moment of sharing.”
Sam Richardson: Thanksgiving is an “opportunity to be with the people who are important in your life and to eat American food, which is often difficult to do in France. It’s weird because it’s so important in the US. The French don’t care because it means nothing to them.”
Sarah Wright: “Thanksgiving sh
American Tradition on the Other Side of the Pond
We all gathered at the Dickinson Center Thursday, November 25th, to celebrate Thanksgiving. It’s a very special occasion for all of us, as it was like we were at home in the United States. I imagine that I’m not the only one used to spending Thanksgiving vacation with my family. It was really nice to be able to be together in a country that doesn’t know about this tradition. The French students in my classes were surprised that we get a day off in the United States.
The evening started in the basement of the Dickinson Center. The atmosphere was very pleasant; we drank champagne and made conversation while waiting for the meal. Then, we went upstairs and we found two tables set for dinner. We all filled our plates with lots of food: there were turkey, green beans, mashed potatoes and other typical American dishes. There were also a few guests among us; some of us had invited their friends and family. At the end of the meal, we enjoyed delicious desserts prepared by the students.
–Nicolas Garzon
Reflections on Thanksgiving in France
The La Une team wanted to know how Americans experience Thanksgiving in France. Two members of our team, Anna Ciriani Dean et Qichan Qian, took advantage of the evening to discuss with the guests. Here is how we lived this holiday in Toulouse.
QUESTIONS :
What feelings does the idea of spending Thanksgiving in France evoke for you?
What does your host family think of Thanksgiving?
Why is it important to celebrate Thanksgiving as Americans in France?
What does Thanksgiving mean to you?
What aspects of American culture does Thanksgiving evoke?
If Thanksgiving existed in France, what would the French eat?
How would the French celebrate such a holiday?
ANSWERS :
Makeda Jones : “It’s a new experience. It’s the first time I’ve celebrated Thanksgiving aways from my family. My host mom loves Thanksgiving. Although it’s not a French holiday, she’s already been to the United States. My host sister also loves Thanksgiving because she thinks that the idea behind it is great.”
Cayla Cantafio: “It’s a nice experience for me, especially with my grandparents visiting”
Leigh Harlow: Thanksgiving is an “important holiday” to “celebrate the people that are significant in my life” like “my family and my friends.”
Alex Drapac: It’s important to celebrate it “with the French to show the importance of our American culture.” It’s a “family reunion,” “the significance of the meal” is important.
Becky Payne: “They would eat “cassoulet or blanquette” if Thanksgiving were a French holiday. “There’s no way to know, we haven’t experienced any big holidays in France yet” that are as important as Thanksgiving to make a comparison.
Gabby Betances: They would eat “duck, filet, sausage, cheese…”
Yana Schick: For me, Thanksgiving means “Food! Big plates of food! My family isn’t very traditional,” but I think that French culture is similar because we get together and eat a lot…we spend time with our family,” which is a tradition in both cultures.
Mme Raynaud: “You can’t ignore Thanksgiving…it’s a part of American identity. It’s a sad moment here because you aren’t with your family; but we get together with our family here,” the students and the Dickinson team.
Mme Toux: When I was in the United States for Thanksgiving, I was “miserable” because I was “a foreigner. The streets are empty, you feel alone and you understand that it’s an important family holiday like Christmas in France. It’s really what brings Americans together…a moment of sharing.”
Sam Richardson: Thanksgiving is an “opportunity to be with the people who are important in your life and to eat American food, which is often difficult to do in France. It’s weird because it’s so important in the US. The French don’t care because it means nothing to them.”
Sarah Wright: “Thanksgiving shows the similarities between the two cultures: you spend time with the family, you share a meal…the only difference is that the French eat cheese and drink wine.”
”’Sarah Wright : ”’ « la fête de Thanksgiving montre des similarités entre les deux cultures : on passe du temps avec la famille, on partage un repas…la seule différence est qu’on mange du fromage et que l’on boit du vin ».
ows the similarities between the two cultures: you spend time with the family, you share a meal…the only difference is that the French eat cheese and drink wine.”
”’Sarah Wright : ”’ « la fête de Thanksgiving montre des similarités entre les deux cultures : on passe du temps avec la famille, on partage un repas…la seule différence est qu’on mange du fromage et que l’on boit du vin ».
