Celebrating Thanksgiving in Cyprus this year was one of those experiences that felt both familiar and wonderfully new. Being so far from home during the holidays can tug at the heart a bit, but this year, our British and Kiwi friends wrapped us in the coziest version of the holiday we could have imagined—curiosity, enthusiasm, and all.
From the moment we mentioned Thanksgiving, they were all in. They asked about every tradition, every dish, every detail. Before we knew it, they had transformed the house with decorations, set up a feast that could rival any American Thanksgiving table (complete with all the vegan options), and insisted on watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. We laughed as we explained what on earth a giant Snoopy balloon had to do with anything.
Then came the next question: “Shouldn’t we watch a football game?” Of course we should!
But we quickly realized we had some explaining to do. So there we were, gathered around the TV, trying to summarize the rules of American football for a group who grew up calling an entirely different sport “football.” They were good sports about it (pun intended), nodding along as we attempted to make downs, field goals, and touchdowns make sense. Naturally, watching wasn’t enough. Before dinner, a group headed outside to play a surprisingly lively game of “football” themselves — a tradition that brought us right back to Thanksgiving afternoons at home. The laughter, the slightly questionable passes, and the competitive spirit made it feel like the most authentic piece of the day.
As we sat around the table later, full of food and full of gratitude, we reflected on just how much we have to be thankful for. We have our health—minus the usual travel-borne nuisances like tennis elbow, blisters, scrapes, and the occasional runny nose. We have a life of adventure that still feels surreal sometimes. And we have an incredible travel family who turns every corner of the world into something that feels like home.
Michael and I are especially thankful for our teens. Somehow, in the whirlwind of travel and growing up, they’ve become these hilarious, smart, happy, resourceful young people who still love spending time with us—and even give us hugs every day. Watching them turn into amazing teens is one of our greatest joys.
Of course, we miss our family back home, especially during the holidays. But sitting there in Cyprus, surrounded by people who chose to celebrate with us—who embraced our traditions as if they were their own—we felt incredibly lucky. Thanksgiving may look different each year, but the heart of it stays the same.
Wherever we are, home is the people around our table. And this year, in this sunny corner of Cyprus, our home felt very full.
