Two and a half years ago, before moving to the U.S, everything I knew about Thanksgiving came solely from watching and re-watching Friends episodes. I knew that turkeys were eaten, friends and families gathered, and someone usually messed up the desert they were meant to make. American television and film gave me a solid foundation, but every year, I have learned a little more about this awesome holiday. This year, I was lucky enough to spend Thanksgiving with one of my best friends and her family in Dallas, taking a short but sweet trip up to her ranch in East Texas. Lets just say, they do it a little differently in Texas.
1. Expressing gratitude is important and makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside.
It has been scientifically proven that expressing gratitude can decrease stress levels and increase satisfaction with your life. Gratitude can be difficult to express on a daily basis, but taking a moment to express it will definitely make you happier.
2. Eating socially unacceptable amounts of food is actually OK.
People will spend days prepping and cooking the Thanksgiving meal, and when 2 p.m. Thursday rolls around, it would almost be rude not to try it all. The turkey is the star of the Thanksgiving show, and carbs are its backup dancers.
3. It is also OK to then take a four-hour nap to digest all the food.
Slipping into a food coma is a very real concern once the meal is over. It is essential for your physiological well-being that you take a nice, long nap.
4. Marshmallows do not belong on sweet potatoes.
You’re probably thinking, what does an Aussie know about Thanksgiving food combinations. You could be right, but I would just prefer my marshmallows in my hot chocolate, and not on top of my potatoes.
5. Black Friday shopping could be an extreme sport.
The lines are long enough to make you lose your mind, you will probably have to fight off other shoppers, and try not to lose your shit over insanely slow walkers that refuse to get out of your way.
6. Wear your cowboy boots to the ranch, and don’t irritate the longhorns.
Ranch fashion is important, and those horns are sharp.
7. Don't get in the way of the football.
It doesn't matter if you would rather watch a movie, or throw around an actual football — if there is football on TV, you best sit down with the rest of the family and watch.
8. The transition from Thanksgiving to Christmas is alarmingly fast.
One minute, the living room is awash in browns, yellows, and oranges, and the next, the Christmas tree is flashing merrily in the hallway; and you're left wondering how it all happened so fast.
