[November 25] London: My first Thanksgiving away from home...

This is Bloomsbury Square. It has nothing to do with this post, but it's a random picture I have that I like... it's near the IES Centre.

This is my first Thanksgiving that I won't be spending with my family. I didn't think I would really miss Thanksgiving, to be honest, but now that the time is here... Well, I just wish I could teleport home for the weekend. It's snowing at home and I just imagine being cozy by the fireplace with my family and cuddling up with my puppy dog Bella and sleeping and eating A LOT of delicious Thanksgiving food. Sigh. It really sounds perfect. But I have so many things here in London to be thankful for, and my time abroad really 'makes up' for missing the typical Thanksgiving at home.

Some specific things I'm thankful for right now:

-I'm thankful that my parents let me come to London and that they're supporting me in many ways here. I remember when I first talked to them about possibly studying abroad in London and my mom said that she wanted me to have the experience of studying abroad if I wanted, and my dad said that London is huge and has millions of people! And then he looked kind of stressed out. Hahaha!

-I'm thankful I've made friends with so many lovely people here in London. I don't know what it's going to be like to leave them all and honestly maybe never see some of them again. But on the bright side... now I have an excuse to travel to visit these people.

-I'm thankful for my friends at home and that I can still count on from across the globe.

-I'm thankful that I'm an American. Before coming to Europe, I was nervous that everyone here would really dislike or even hate Americans. I thought I might begin to really despise Americans as well. But actually, I've heard really positive things from the 'natives' I've spoken to regarding Americans and in many ways I really prefer my American 'way of life'. I actually have more pride in being and American than I did before.

Well, there is A LOT more I'm thankful for of course, but these are the main things on my mind right now.

Oh, how I really miss home right now...