"If Loving Turkey is Wrong, I Don't Wanna Be Right"

"If Loving (t)urkey is wrong, I don't wanna be right" This now infamous quote was said at my third Thanksgiving this year, by a young man named Yusuf, whose English has taken a whole new direction since my American compatriot and colleague, Trevor moved into his apartment. I have varied the quote to pertain to Turkey with a capital T, because, well, I love Turkey, and I don't eat meat :)

First,to briefly give an overview of my Thanksgiving experience this year.  I have had three Thanksgivings, each one quite unique but equally wonderful.  My first Thanksgiving took place in d.c. last week with 22 friends and family that gathered for an early Thanksgiving (see "Bayram Thanksgiving post). 

The second Thanksgiving took place in Istanbul on Thanksgiving day proper, at the house of a Texan family who has taken me under their big, warm Texan wings.

Texas A & M hat next to Fez

At the Texan Thankgiving (a la Turka), about four international families gathered to celebrate.  The father, Jim, had recently returned from a trip home, during which he was given a grocery list full of Thanksgiving ingredients.  So, miraculously, we feasted on dishes such as sweet potatoes, corn bread, pumpkin pie, stuffing, cranberry sauce, etc, that are challenging, to say the least, to find in Turkey.

Dumi having leftovers I brought home, emotionally prepping for her first Thanksgiving


  üçüncü (Third) Thanksgiving, A La Turka!:
With six American students in my graduate program, and having accumulated various American friends, about a month ago the Thanksgiving hype started gaining momentum, and we realized we had to have a proper Thankgiving here in Istanbul.

...To view a time lapse video of us prepping the Thanksgiving setting, here is the link to a video Nick made of us (without our knowledge)...though I am in the kitchen for most of it.
Nick's Time Lapse Video Thanksgiving Prep




A week ago, our dear friend Nitsa called MacroCenter - a more Westerny grocery store - and ordered us a 15 pound Turkey for the occasion.  Nick and Ashley took over management of the turkey, and the rest of the necessary and important dishes were distributed amongst the rest of us.

A few days before the ever important event, some of us received an email saying that we were proctoring undergraduate finals the day of from 1-4:30 pm, prime turkey-cooking time.  This meant that Zac, our colleague and dear friend who is always the bringer of cups or plates or ice cream to our potlucks (and is only slightly averse to cooking) was being put in charge of the entire cooking and basting process.  It turned out beautifully, though, yay Zac.

 

Emily finishing the mashed potatoes


one of my contributions; stuffing (from a box)



homemade applesauce and pecan pie



Trevor's bruschetta


  

last minute cake: turns out you can't go wrong with nutella

Kabak Tatlısı: a delicious syrup-soaked pumpkin goodness

Nick and the turkey

the turkey, ready to go



biz hemsehriyiz d.c.'de, Sarah and Sarah's apple crumble

getting the seating arrangements arranged

Emily and our Professor, Nina

a delicious carrot and potato dish, madeby Emily

the whole Thanksgiving crew

the hostess, Ms. Ashley, welcoming all

our resident speech-giver, Trevor, explaining the history and importance of Thanksgiving to the Turks

passing the turkey around...


a variation of pecan pie

Dumi and Yusuf 

In conclusion, a photo of Dumi and Yusuf, proving that Transilvanian vampires and Turks can indeed coexist in the world of International Thanksgiving.