My sister has a fear which some may find irrational. This fear is of being obvious. It started when my mum sent her to the store on Christmas Eve when she was about 7 for carrots. She was so embarrassed because everyone would know that the carrots were for Rudolf...how obvious! As she got older she dreaded walking home with Christmas paper or buying candy at Halloween, wearing team colors on the day of the Cup Final or being drunk at New Year. I wonder what my sister would make of Super bowl Sunday.
It really takes years to adjust to a new culture. A first you ignore it. You continue to refer to trousers and celebrate Guy Fawkes Day. You argue about the pronunciation and stick to your own traditions. After a few years you begin to get tired of explaining what a jumper is and call jam, jelly just for ease. It takes another couple of years to get into American traditions like holidays and in this my seventh year in the US I am getting on board. I am totally down with Thanksgiving, well not the origins, just the current holiday. One day, no presents, great food and hanging out. I get the Fourth of July thing. Summer holiday, BBQ, hanging out. Still working on a couple of others and this Sunday it is time for me to embrace the Super bowl. I intend to root for a team, eat snacks and drink beer...sorry sis.
The best thing about American holidays and traditions is that they are new. There are no expectations which can't be met or bad memories. No family pressures (other people's families always seem easier than your own) or disappointments, just new fun times. Being away from home is not always easy but it is an excuse to join in fully for your first Thanksgiving or first Hanukah. To be totally obvious.
Go Giants! (Or Patriots)
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