Thankful Germany Doesn´t Know About Black Friday

Thanksgiving.  One of those quintessentially American things, focused on food, football, and family (and maybe a parade or two).  I can´t really say my family has ever had a firm grasp on how the holiday is supposed to work.  We had a turkey, once, last year.  Anyway, I guess I don´t really have such well-defined memories associated with the holiday.  For whatever reason, obscure holidays like Groundhog Day and Day Light Savings (spring forward and fall back) will always hold much more sentimental meaning and warm memories.  The whole family, gathered around, changing the clocks...

But, when one of the other American fellows offered to host Thanksgiving in Berlin, of course I was game.  I´ll even take credit for suggesting that we roast a goose instead of a turkey.  And somehow, through that, the idea of a Duck Duck Goose Thanksgiving was born.  We would make two things with duck, and roast a Goose, and invite everyone we know and adore in Berlin.

First there was the awkward call to the butcher, asking if they had any 13 kg geese.  She laughed at me over the phone.  Apparently they do not feed their animals nearly enough hormones in this country to feed 18 people.

 So, somehow it seemed that if we were going to feed 18 hungry Americans, Germans, Austrians, Russians, Chinese and Australians, we would need to diversify.  That is how we ended up roasting a turkey and a goose.  And, when I say we, I mean I offered a lot of moral support while the other fellow did everything, and I ran a few errands, and poured wine, and washed some dishes.

Perhaps some highlights were when one of our dear Russian colleagues brought Dunkin Donuts, which, as it turns out much more brightly iced than in the US.  No Germans believed us when we said that in the US the donuts look normal.  But, I think its part of the caricaturization of American pop culture for European audiences.  Or, that the goose never actually finished cooking, so the hostess and I ate it for lunch the next day!!! (yum).  Or, that all of our first timer Thanksgiving participants were not really sure if they were eating a goose or a turkey.

Sharing Thanksgiving with a huge group of friends, making a little bubble of real, legitimate American space in Germany, was kind of great.