One of the hardest parts of going abroad is being apart from loved ones during the holidays.  Thanksgiving in Denmark (though this could apply to nearly anywhere outside the US) can be especially tough since no one else in the country will “get” what the big deal is about a holiday that celebrates overeating.  In order to feel a bit less homesick, some friends and I got together to try and make an authentic Thanksgiving dinner.  Only one problem: none of us knew how to cook.

There we were, four 20-something boy-men standing in a Danish supermarket trying to ask the clerk where to find ingredients for dishes they have never heard of (if you ever want to feel like a crazy person, try describing stuffing to a Dane).  On top of our vast lack of cooking experience, it turns out there are no turkeys in Denmark. Anywhere.  Not phased by these setbacks, we decided to get the next best bird: a whole chicken.

Although none of us wanted to admit it, I think we all had serious doubts about whether or not the dinner would ever get off the ground.  Surprisingly, and likely due in no small part to the numerous phone calls we made to our respective mothers, the dinner came out ok.  In fact, it was one of the best meals I’ve had since coming to Denmark (see photos below).  We had chicken, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, baked sweet potatoes, salad, and even apple pie for desert.  After the meal, we all felt the warm, familiar Thanksgiving day feeling of an overfull stomach.  And thanks to the wonders of the internet, we were even able to sink into the couch at watch some American football after dinner.  Although its important to learn about other cultures while abroad, it can be just as important to celebrate your own which is exactly what we did that day. God bless Amurrica.