Shoukran Habibty

Today is thanksgiving. A day in which Americans and others perhaps will eat a crap ton of food and a weird hour with a bunch of people asking the same questions about school and their lives in general. It's also a day to give thanks and be grateful. While that should be everyday, today is the day we are reminded that we should do it everyday. I have so many things to be grateful for ... I mean I'm in Egypt... Right now. So this might be a long one...

Thank you to my host family. Thank you for opening up your home to me even though we were complete strangers a couple months ago. Thank you for providing me with food, shelter, and wifi, the bear necessities. Thank you for teaching me things like cooking and Arabic. Thank you for taking me places like the pyramids, castle and suez. Thank you for helping me with my laundry. Thank you for not getting mad when I forget to turn the water off after I shower. Thank you for everything. There is no way for me to express my gratitude. I cannot thank you enough. 

Thank you to my friends here in Egypt for being patient and kind with my Arabic (or lack there of). Thank you for teaching me Arabic. Thank you for speaking English more than you've ever wanted or needed to. Thank you for giving me food. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for being such wonderful people. Thank you for pretending to understand even when you don't. Thank you for all the times you've helped me because I can be helpless sometimes. Thank you for not giving up on me and my pretty bad Arabic. And thank you for making my birthday super super sweet. 

Thank you to my Momy and Daddie. Thank you for paying the price of a new car to send me here. Thank you for letting me go abroad. Thank you for letting me go to a country that plenty of people are too scared to go. Thank you for asking me Momy questions. Thank you for sending me Daddie questions. Thank you for the presents I won't use for a while. And thank you for money. And for raising me. And like everything else. 

Thank you to Maya. Thank you for being a good sister. Thank you for playing video games with my name as a character. Thank you for being my best friend. Thank you for keeping me company. Thank you for sending me ugly selfies. 

Thank you to AFS-Egypt. Thank you for checking up on me and being on too of things. Thank you for taking me to get my visa. And getting me to and from the AFS office and for making sure I'm a healthy and happy exchange student. 

Thank you to Lynnewood UMC for my signed shirt. It's like a hug when I wear it. I call it my love shirt. 

Thank you to teachers. You really move kids. Whether you encouraged, inspired, or made me really want to get away from you, you are all the reason I am where I am and who I am today. 

Thank you to Virgin and Turkish airlines for literally getting me here. 

And finally. Thank you. Thank you for reading my blog. I would probably still write if no one read but it's more fun with an audience. Thank you to all of you who tell me they like my blog, or they find it interesting, or that I'm a good writer. Thank you for the encouragement and the advice. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and mine. Thank you for all the joy you bring. 

This post in 145 characters or less:

Thank you. I love you. Happy thanksgiving. You are amazing. ❤️

Also thanksgiving is not thanksgiving with out chocolate pie. The recipe's been in my family for generations. (At least three). It takes a lot of work (labor of love) and right now it's in the fridge I hope it turns out okay. 

Crust

Filling in the making. 

Before the fridge. 

I will post a picture when it's completely done. 

Happy thanksgiving! Appreciate your family, eat and drink to your hearts' content, and be grateful, even if it's just for being alive. Also watch this.

Stay beautiful. 

Byeeeee

Corie. 

P.S. The title means thank you my love... Basically.