United Colors of Thanksgiving

A day later and several pounds heavier, I’m pleased to report that Operation Expat Thanksgiving 2011: “Make All The Things, Invite All The People” was successfully executed and that 28 of our closest friends, acquaintances, and colleagues in Dubai - about half of whom were experiencing their first Turkey Day ever! - were successfully fed, intoxicated, and forced to publicly share their sentiments of gratitude.

The great thing about Thanksgiving in Dubai is that it happens during literally the most beautiful time of year, meaning we got to dine al fresco on our friends J+A’s patio…

… surrounded by nonchalant views of the world’s tallest building.

Pretty cool, eh?

I will not say it was easy or drama-free to cook for and host nearly thirty people, but at the end of the day everyone seemed genuinely happy to be gathered together, whether for their first Thanksgiving or their thirtieth.

Co-hostesses with the mostesses, in the midst of a minor pre-dinner panic as we attempted to reheat 40+ dishes in one very tiny oven… eh, when in doubt, pour another glass of wine, right?

Of course, this being me, I did relish the “United Colors of Benetton”-ish makeup of our crowd - because really, find me a person who doesn’t love pushing themselves to eat “beyond the wall” and then passing out in a tryptophan-induced haze and I will find you a person who hasn’t experienced Thanksgiving…

American expat friends love Thanksgiving!

Sudanese-New Zealanders and seventy-something year-old English friend’s mums love Thanksgiving!

Jersey girls and Brits and German-Jamaicans love Thanksgiving!

Emiratis and Palestinians love Thanksgiving!

(In epic fashion, when we forced people to go around and say what they were thankful for after the meal, these two cited “oil” and “Rolexes” respectively… Arab money, man.)

And of course, my food baby loves Thanksgiving!

As for Alex… well, he loves the post-meal shisha that he manages to incorporate into any festive occasion.

And the best part about expat Thanksgiving is that - unbound by the traditional confines of holiday dates and timing - we get to do it all over again tonight, at a friend’s house who’s hosting his own belated dinner because he was in Nigeria for work on Thursday. This time, free from the stress of hosting, I plan to eat far beyond the wall… we’re talking the elusive “fourth stomach,” people.

Wish me luck!