Thanksgiving

In the mounting tension of the cold war, I (nearly) forgot to tell you about the holiday! Yes, America realizes that the last post was the day after Thanksgiving (commonly known to the host nation as Black Friday) and nothing was mentioned about the fact that this was the first Thanksgiving for Spain and the first American Thanksgiving for Korea. So here is how it went:

It was early on in the UN saga that the first words regarding this milestone weekend were said. America believes it was Korea that first mentioned it. Korea had heard from school one day and came home all confused about this: "Friday...Black...?" America knew exactly what it meant immediately.

"Oh you mean Black Friday, right?" America was right, Black Friday was the topic of some sort of conversation at school that day and America went right into explaining what it was all about.

Spain, a week or so later: "There is a Black Friday?" And again, with some weird sort of pride, spoke up about the momentous occasion.

Both of these conversations ended with, "If you want to see what a crazy American is, go to the mall on Black Friday!" There was a bit more talk about Black Friday between then and now, but first, on to Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving was first mentioned in the UN around the time Thanksgiving rolled around in Korea, early October. Spain and Korea were in the conversation at the same time and America had mentioned that when Thanksgiving in the host nation people don't feel hungry for three days. Spain listened in disbelief and did not believe that this was at all possible.

Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and three and a half days off school finally arrived. The UN was once again, packed into the UN-Mobile to head north to visit those Netherlanders to start the eating season. The amount of food and people and the organization of the whole feast was quite a spectacle in and of itself but half way through the meal, sitting right between Korea and Spain, America looks over at Spain and says, "Do you see now why people are not hungry for three days?" Spain nodded, again with disbelief, that this was indeed possible. And at this point, Spain had already cleared a heaping plate and was trying to ration the second helping all while America was also trying to tell the country that there were four different desserts to choose from. ...Or indulge in. Most definitely Spain was enthralled with this 'real American tradition'.

So there the three member nations were...stuffed (Fiji had fed the masses with those who seek to end world hunger). And it was on to Black Friday. America had an ally come and stay the night in the UN HQ so that when the clocked ticked that magical hour, America, it's ally, and Korea would rise from the dead and go shopping.

Fiji took Spain shopping at midnight when the sales started and Spain got to see the Crazy American first hand: a fist fight at Walmart. (Now, was that a safe thing to do...Walmart on Black Friday? ...Probably not but Spain is all for anything American). Kudos goes to Spain because Spain first shopped with Fiji, came home, and a few hours later, went shopping again with allies and stayed out till 6:30am!

(Back Story: Spain, about a week before had asked America if the country could go Black Friday shopping with some allies and "they want to sleep on the street". America, without hesitation, adamantly said no and that was the end of that discussion. America could not even imagine explaining that to Spain's home countrymen: "Dear ... I'm sorry to have to send you this email, but it seems to be that Spain got murdered/mugged/robbed/hurt in some form/(fill in the blank) while sleeping on the street waiting for a store to open. ..." That was enough to satisfy Spain and the topic was never brought up again.)

Anyway, America, it's ally, and Korea got up at 4 and were quickly out the door and shopping by 4:30, coffee by 6am, and back home by 8am with treasures in hand. The best deal of the day was $150 off one item. The best shop with sales was Bath and Body Works were one of us saved over $120 in one purchase. Korea thought it was nuts when America finally pointed out that the mall, at 5:30am, was just as busy as a Saturday night when a blockbuster movie comes out.

Crazy Americans! It was a good day all around. The UN (plus one) hung out, laughed, and decorated for Christmas, wrapped newly bought presents (and some that were stashed from earlier Christmas shopping) as one big happy coalition and none could be more thankful than that than America.

Oh wait, one moment of tension that was released today (the next day). America collects a city and brings it out as christmas/winter decorations. Well, one building is an embassy and since there were no Korean flags that came in the box, this year it ends up being the Spain Embassy for lack of a more meaningful option. Korea wasn't so keen on that idea but Korea also discovered today that one of the buildings has Korean writing all over it: its a Korean market!

Today, America is thankful for America. More specifically, that there are crazy American's to watch at 5:30am on Black Friday.