A tried and true U.S. holiday, Thanksgiving is obviously not celebrated here in Carmen Pampa (our small gringo community non-withstanding--we, of course, plan to have oven baked chicken, mashed potatoes, and green beans...at 10am to accommodate a regular, busy school day).
Recently, as I've been explaining the concept of "Turkey Day," I've asked some students that one question we're commonly asked to consider as we're sitting around the dinner table on Thanksgiving: "What are you thankful for?"
A few of their responses:
"I am grateful for the opportunity to study here at the UAC-CP...and I'm grateful to everyone who has given all of us here the opportunity to better ourselves through higher education."
Pre-university students Fernando Mollinedo, Sonia Poma, Amira Luque, and Willy Ramirez pose in front of a series of prayers of thanksgiving they wrote and posted on the wall behind the altar in the Campus Leahy chapel.
"I am thankful for my parents--for their constant love and care."
"I am grateful to all those who have, in some way, helped me economically and morally. People like Sr. Damon (UAC-CP founder)--who always encouraged me--and Hugh (current UAC-CP vice director)--who, for me, has been like a second father. I'm grateful to these people."
"I am thankful to God for giving me my life and allowing me to achieve one of my life goals: to get my college degree."
"I am thankful for the friendships I have--especially the people who have come into my life when I needed them most."
So whether we're eating pumpkin pie at grandma's house or sitting in an eco-tourism class on Campus Manning, we all have things to be thankful for on this day. Happy Thanksgiving from the UAC-CP!
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