U.S. Holidays in Foreign Lands
When I was listening to the program today about the woman in
Japan whose friend asked her if she believed in Jesus Christ,
this recent experience about U.S. holidays came to mind:
Over Thanksgiving this year I flew to England to walk through
the towns where my maternal grandparents grew up. I was taking
a local train from Bromley Cross to Bolton and asked a woman
(about 55 or so) who was also waiting at the station if I was
standing on the correct side of the platform for that train.
We sat together on the train and chatted about the usual things,
where I was from in the U.S. and my occupation, her children, was
she ready for Christmas, and so on. She asked me about my trip
and why I was traveling in November when it's not exactly warm
and sunny in England. I told her that because of the
Thanksgiving holiday I had an extra vacation day and also that I
enjoyed traveling when it was less crowded with tourists.
Her next question was a little surprise, "What is Thanksgiving?"
I got a little uncomfortable, wondering how much I should get
into her countrymen fleeing England because of religious
persecution. So I glossed over that part of the history (hoping
she wouldn't ask) and moved directly to the Pilgrims, Native
Americans, celebration of bountiful harvest, food and family.
She breathed a sigh of relief, smiled broadly and said, "Thank
you so much. I've been reading Danielle Steele books for years,
she always writes about Thanksgiving. Now I finally know what
she was talking about."
Sometimes those cultural things just aren't as touchy as they
first appear!
Penny
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