T-Day recap

Thanksgiving was pretty relaxed in China. We headed to Steak & Eggs for our 4:30 dinner reservation. This was good, because I'm used to eating T-day dinner around 4pm. S&E was packed. Paul (the owner) was going nuts (entire cook/wait staff is Chinese, he finally invested in English lessons for them, progress is noticeable). Good meal, lots of wine... lots of Chinese talking going on at the table (since we all brought Chinese dates). It's amazing how Chinese girls create instant friendships with each other. I've noticed it a lot recently, especially at work. The girls just gravitate to each other and become instant friends.

After a couple of hours @ S&E and too much food, it was time to head for some post dinner cocktails...on to Centro in the Kerry Center. We got a table, ordered a couple bottles of wine & just relaxed. After a couple hours, I decided it was time for a cigar. Smoked on a smooth Romeo Y Julieta for about an hour, it was great. The girls wanted to head to Suzie Wongs, so that was the next & last stop for the night. When I got home (around 2am), I decided it was time to start dialing and wishing friends and family a Happy Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving festivities...in China

Tomorrow will mark my second holiday in China (Halloween was the first). I've noticed that many of the Chinese think that Thanksgiving is on Saturday, still haven't gotten to the bottom of that one, but I think it's because a lot of people will have "Thanksgiving parties" on Saturday ... although, they don't really understand how Thanksgiving came to be. I failed at giving the team a taste of Thanksgiving...I tried to order lunch delivery from Steak & Eggs too late (Monday). Oh well, I'll give them a taste of American Christmas.

This will be the first Thanksgiving ever, that I've spent away from my parents (awwe). For the past 5 years that I was in Raleigh, NC for Thanksgiving...I've gone to Buffalo, went to NYC once or my aunt & uncle have Thanksgiving at their house & my parents come. This will also be the first Thanksgiving that I won't be out partying the night before (Wednesday night booze fest is a tradition in Buffalo, likely many other cities too). Unfortunately, I can't really take off for the "US holidays" ... so, will be in the office bright & early tomorrow.

However, I will be having Thanksgiving dinner at an "American" restaurant: Steak & Eggs (It's owned by a guy from Canada, close enough). I'm meeting some other American guys there around 5pm tomorrow evening. We're all bring dates (Chinese girls that don't speak English), so they can experience their first Thanksgiving feast.

I don't think there will be much going on here for Thanksgiving, but I'm interested to see how the day goes. I'm sure I'll see a few strange things (maybe some turkeys being slaughtered on a side street in Chaoyang?).