Essay 1

 

November 27th

My first connection with American culture started three years ago. I moved to Chicago in the autumn of 2023. I think it’s the best season to feel the original atmosphere. I started working in Chicago immediately, and after a couple of weeks I found my first American friend here, Dan. The coming holiday was Thanksgiving Day. Dan invited me to celebrate this special day together with his family. I couldn’t say no, because in my country, Ukraine, this day doesn’t exist, and I didn’t have any idea how people celebrated this day here. That dinner taught me what it really means to be thankful.

People usually celebrate Thanksgiving Day in the last week of November. That year it was November 27th. That day I was nervous and excited because it was the first time I was going to have dinner with people I didn’t know. In addition, I didn’t know anything about their traditions. When the Uber driver dropped me off, I saw a beautiful huge house surrounded by trees. The view was so magical, and I wondered if it was real or if I was in a movie. I brought a bottle of wine with me. When the front door opened, I saw Dan and his whole family. They were already waiting for me. I sat at the table and looked everywhere. The design and details inside the house were incredible. The wooden table was full of delicious food, and everything looked so tasty. I still remember the smell of those dishes. But of course, the main dish was a huge baked turkey with fruit. During dinner we asked each other questions, made jokes, and shared funny moments and stories. Deep inside, I felt warm because I had just moved to this city and I didn’t have any friends or acquaintances here who could give me advice or whom I could ask for help. That night I was deeply thankful to this family and Dan for hosting me for this special family holiday.

After that dinner, something changed inside me. I learned that not all people are bad, but also that not everyone can show you their own big family world, full of love, care, and an open heart. I can say that Dan’s family has become like a second family to me. The main feeling I got from that evening is to be open with people, make friends with them, or try to help. If Dan had not invited me, I would never have had that experience with that family. And now I definitely know one big thing, which is why Thanksgiving Day is so important: we are thankful for someone or something in our lives, like friends, family, experience, and work.

I would say that Thanksgiving Day gave me a special understanding and the best first touch with American culture and people, and for the rest of my life, I will always be thankful for this opportunity and experience. This family and that day showed me how to be a human. I hope one day I will be ready to open my door for someone who needs it.