Happy Thanksgiving!

I’m feeling a bit better today — still weak but not flat out sick.  I’m going to venture out to Thanksgiving dinner with an American family this afternoon.  I might only last a couple of hours, but I don’t want to miss celebrating one of my favorite holidays.  Update: unfortunately I didn’t feel well enough to go to Thanksgiving dinner but I am hopeful that I am on the road to recovery.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, here is a list of  the big things I am thankful for:

Hospitality — over the last three months, friends and strangers have housed and fed me when I needed a place to stay and fed and medicated me when I was sick.  For this, I am truly grateful.

Friends in Lithuania — those I’ve reconnected with from last year and new friends I’ve made this year.  Although I come to Lithuania to work, my friends and acquaintances make my time here enjoyable.

Friends and family in the U.S. —  who keep in touch and don’t forget me while I’m far away for a long time.

Graduate school — despite the fact that graduate school seems designed to crush any sense of confidence in one’s intellectual abilities and drive one into debt, I glad that I am in the Ph.D. program.  I appreciate the opportunity to develop my skills as a historian and to begin my own research and scholarship.

Fulbright-Hays Fellowship — without this funding, I would not have the opportunity to be back in Lithuania continuing my research and writing my dissertation.

Skype — which allows me to talk to my friends and family on this holiday and see their smiling faces.

And so I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving.  Even if you aren’t American and this isn’t your national holiday, I hope that today you will take a few minutes to think about what you are thankful for.