Thanksgiving UK Style

Of course, we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving here in the UK since that is an American holiday. Initially, I had planned to be at school for the thanksgiving holiday until my American friend in London called me and said her and her flat mate were hosting a dinner social. I decided to jet to London for the festivities of the night, even though I had to come back the next day for my seminar.

The next question what shall I cook. I decided I would cook a sweet potatoes pie. Since my friends in Cardiff had never had one, I decided to make two for them before I left. Well once I got to the grocery store I learned they didn’t sell pre-made pie crust, which meant I had to make my own from scratch. I stayed up all night making pies. Ultimately I missed my early morning bus to London. So I had to rebook to catch a later one.

Once I made to London that afternoon, I decided I wanted to go to Camden Market before I went to my friend’s house. The thanksgiving dinner started about 8 p.m. We had fried chicken, turkey, pasta, macaroni, cabbage, peach cobbler, mash potatoes, grilled Jamaican potatoes, and rolls. The food was alright. The peach cobbler was the best part. It seemed like the dinner lasted forever, since people didn’t leave the flat till 3 am in the morning. Being there made me wish I was at home, with my family, especially since I knew we would look at the ads after dinner and determine where what stores we would get up at 2 am for on Black Friday.

Now that I think about my thanksgiving, I realize I have so much that I am thankful for-God, family, good friends, the fruits of the spirit, life, and my growth & development as a young lady. I think sometimes we get forget that as long as we are living, there is always a reason to be thankful.

Quote of the week: “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” -- Melody Beattie

Cheers,
Black Girl in Wales

Dublin Escapade

Last week I went Dublin for a few days. Here is an entry I wrote while I was there, but was unable to post at the time.

I left my journal at home I wish I did not. Unfortunately it was too heavy for my bag and for that reason I’m glad I left it at home (since my shoulder is killing me from carrying my bag all day with my laptop.

Yeah so I’m in Dublin tonight. I leave tomorrow to head back to Cardiff. My flight got delayed on Monday I was supposed to leave Bristol at 7 and get to Dublin by 8 pm. We didn’t leave Bristol airport to head to the Birmingham airport till about 11:00 where we took off at about 2 am. (The airport plane landing system was not working and since it was heavy fog outside, the planes could not see where to land in Bristol).

I didn’t get to the youth hostel till 5 am in the morning. Omg so the man says breakfast starts at 8 a.m. so I figured I would go ahead and stay up till then since I was hungry. Breakfast was quite disappointing. So I grab my things and out the door I was by 8:30, without any sleep for the past 24 hours.

I didn’t realize till I started walking that nothing was open. So I went to Tesco (grocery store) grabbed a morning drink and two pastries. Then I decided to go to Dublin I.T. University. I felt like my Uncle Ron as I sat there. I tried to go to the library, but was unable because I didn’t have an ID card, so I headed down to the student union, where I sat on a couch and took a short snooze. At about 10:30 a.m. I left the union, determined to make the most of my day in Dublin.

With only 75 euros left in my pocket, I knew I had to spend it wisely. So my first idea was to walk everywhere and not take a taxi. And that’s what I did. Needless to say I got lost a few times and my feet are worn out from the day, but it was not so bad since in Dublin everything is pretty much near each other. I think I seen enough of Dublin from the Dublin castle, city hall, river bank, various arcades. I know God has been with me since I been here down to smallest things like the lady charging me 5 instead of 9 or me going to gourmet burger expecting to pay 12 and only paying 9. I even bought my mom, sisters, and granny a keepsake and I still have euros left, which I intend to exchange to get my British Pounds back at the airport.

Now lets talk about the hostel, I learned hostels are definitely not for me. I did not like the way my room smelled, which why I haven’t had any sleep. I also did not like bed, I don't know it was something about it. I would rather fall asleep in a chair in the living room.

On another note my family does not know I am here, so I decided to mail them a Dublin postcard. I can't wait to hear their reaction. I know they will be surprised.

So I guess for the night you can say I am a black girl in Dublin. Overall jumping on a plane to Dublin feels empowering, because I came by myself. It's like I really have developed the 'I can do all things through Christ' mentality- It's a way of life for me over here. Certainly people say that scripture, but it's a difference between saying it, knowing it, and actually living it. Every morning I wake up with new obstacles no doubt it and sometimes they seem conquerable and other times they do not at first glance. But at the end of the day I know that whether the obstacles get conquered today or have to wait till tomorrow, it doesn't matter. All that matters is that it is conquered or I overcome it, not the when or the how.

Quote of the week: "When life gives you lemons make lemonade, but not just any lemonade. Make it sweet lemonade, then sip and laugh in the face of adversity."

- Cheers

Black Girl in Dublin