Assignment 14- Saurav Khadka

Usually on the fourth Thursday of November, my brother Sulav and I order pizza, hunker down in our room, and watch football. That’s been our tradition since 2009. But I always desired a day of Norman Rockwell life or something eventful to happen like in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. Something picturesque or more than just sitting in a dark and shut-out room on Thanksgiving. Coming from Nepal, I at first had no knowledge of the holiday. My introduction when I arrived to America was A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. The movie illustrated a pathetic attempt to host a dinner with friends, but even that meager feast enchanted me; it sowed an interest for gathering around a table and food with family. And every year, approaching Thanksgiving, I thought to myself “this time, maybe this time, my family will put together something for Thanksgiving.” But I was Charlie Brown trying to kick the football. Each time I ran to kick it, Lucy pulled the ball back and I fell and resigned myself to Little Caesars. Then last year, my sophomore year, my annual binge on pizza ended. My friends invited me to their Thanksgiving dinner. Finally, after six years, my childhood dream, fulfilled. I gorged on turkey and stuffing, potatoes and pies with my closest friendsSharing food and time with them brought out feelings of glee and joy. Although our dinner did not meet the traditional standard of eating with family, immediate and extended, it felt wholesome. After six years, my friends helped me realize my desire. Sure, I saw my friends every day at school, hung out with them every weekend, but sharing this new experience--not just food--changed my outlook. Before, I thought that the only purpose of having friends was for filling time and keeping boredom away. After that feast, I grasped the importance of the relationships that I maintained.