Thanksgiving Chips

I'll just come out and say it. It's been awhile.

I know I should have called. I should have written. Texted, even.

Please know that my period of absence was only because we're nearing the end of term and life has completely (yet temporarily) trumped my cyber commitments.

It's not because I love you any less!

Anyhow, something tells me you survived without my random musings for a week :)

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Chances are, if you're reading this in the U.S., you get a short day of work tomorrow, or are at least looking forward to it being the last work day of the week. But over here it's just like any other Wednesday and Thursday.

I'm giving a Rotary presentation on Thanksgiving, where I highly doubt there will be turkey and fixin's, but post-presentation I'll be joining a get-together in my hall. Then Saturday, a bunch of the Ambassadorial Scholars are doing a potluck and even playing some American football, so I'll be getting two Thanksgivings!

I'm expecting a care package with American T-giving necessities like corn muffin mix and Karo syrup, so I can make pecan pie and scalloped corn for the festivities.

For now though, I leave you with these delicacies I found in the convenience store the other day.



The ketchup flavor was actually great, because I've been eating ketchup on chips for years (much to the dismay of most of my friends). When I saw ketchup flavored crisps (as they call chips here--chips are fries and crisps are chips), I felt like Walkers (a.k.a. Lays) really understood me!

Then I happened upon the turkey and stuffing crisps, and let me tell you, they were gross. Yes, I bought some, but only in the interest of investigative journalism.

Mary tells me that stateside, they've just introduced "late night hamburger" Doritos, so I guess we Yankees aren't much better, but I think it's safe to say that the flavor of any sort of cooked meat does not belong on a crisp.

What am I thankful for this Thanksgiving? That I get to eat real turkey and stuffing instead of its chemical equivalent on a greasy thin potato slice. And also, of course, I'm thankful for you!

If I don't post before Thursday, I hope everyone has a relaxing and safe holiday. Happy Thanksgiving!

Love,
Jess

The Elections from Abroad

I spent election night at the Frontline Club with the London American Expat meetup group. The Frontline Club is a hot spot for London journalists, so my colleagues and I were right at home. I went with a couple of other Americans on my course, along with an Italian, an Irishman and an Australian.

When we arrived around 9 p.m. local time, the place was fairly packed. As the results from Kentucky and Indiana came in, the mood seemed to go a bit sour. Most of the Americans I talked to at the event were hoping the Democrats would make a strong showing.

Of those I talked to, there were mixed feelings about Obama, though nearly everyone admitted they supported him strongly in 2008. There is a general fascination over here with the Tea Party, and, of course, with Sarah Palin.

As the projections continued to come in, the crowd began to dwindle. I was one of the last to leave, around 2:30 a.m. local time, because I was waiting for results from Iowa. What surprised me most was that at 2:00 a.m. only five people were left, and only two of them American (myself and the guy who organized the event).

The organizer said in 2008, they held an election watch party and 4,000 people came. He estimated that for this watch party about 125 came. The midterm elections may not provide as much drama as a presidential year, but it's a shame they don't draw the same interest.

The night itself was very interesting, and my apologies to those who expected better live tweeting coverage. I became so wrapped up in conversation with different people (American and non-American) that it became difficult to stay connected on my phone. All things, considered, a good problem to have.