Turkey in a Foreign Land

Thanksgiving will be different this year. We are separated from family and the familiar. We went shopping at Carrefour, a huge four story hypermart (grocery/department store) down the street from our apartment. We primarily shopped for items we could recognize. Was that shampoo or conditioner? Are these green beans or something else, similar, but different? Is this toothpaste or hemorrhoid medication?

Thanksgiving had always meant roast turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, and a 55-gallon bowl of gravy! What would we do for Thanksgiving in Shanghai this year?

The chickens stared back at us in the poultry department. Their heads and feet intact making their death seem more like murder! But what about a nice frozen turkey the way God intended!? Two lonely gobblers weighing in at 10 - 11 pounds were all we found. Two reminders of home and heritage, pilgrims and pumpkin pie. But at what cost? Over $50 US!! My home sickness was inspiring me, driving me - "Let's buy this one!"

My wife looked at me pathetically as I hugged one of the birds - "Honey, we don't have a pan to put it in and we don't know how to light the oven. The knobs are in Chinese!"

Sigh . . .