Xiexie Day

It's Thanksgiving Day in America, and I'm doing everything I can to keep from conjuring up images of KTA's roasted turkey and Aunty Judy's pumkin pie. My mouth is watering not only because I really wish I could be at home for this holiday, but because I am seriously hungry.

For the past couple of days, I haven't been able to hold down my food, thanks to some kind of bug that has made me feel quite seasick. I felt so queasy yesterday that I left my class early to celebrate the rest of Thanksgiving by wallowing in misery in the comfort of my bed. You know how misery is - it makes you forget the many things you should be thankful for.

After sleeping all afternoon, I got a call from one of my students. Our conversation went something like this,

"Where are you?" she demanded.
"Um, hi.. I am in bed."
"Yes, I hear you are sick. I will see you at 5 o'clock!"
"Huh? Okay, see you."

I fell asleep again and was awakened by tiny fists raising havoc on my door. I rushed over in my fleece pajamas and hot pink house boots, not giving a damn that I looked more like a ten year old than a teacher. I opened the door and in rushed two of my students. They brought with them a bowl of hot noodles, a bag of apples and pears, and their dinners.

"We have come to celebrate with you!"
They ordered me to eat the bowl of noodles, saying that it would make me feel much better. Obediently, I carefully slurped down the salty noodles as they downed their bowls of spicy dumplings. Who knows, perhaps sickness is partly a state of mind, for by the end of the evening, I actually did feel a little better - while I wasn't able to hold down those noodles, I was reminded of how thankful I am to have such sweet students.

So while my Thanksgiving was not as gloriously festive as it usually is (although, I admit, I am guilty of romanticizing it), the holiday still did everything it was supposed to: it prompted me to give thanks. :)