Thanksgiving in Xinjiang: Round 4

Thanksgiving in Xinjiang has always been an adventurous occasion for my wife and me. One year was sadly spent at Pizza Hut in Urumqi after searching unsuccessfully for a traditional Thanksgiving meal; last year I actually walked around the city with a live turkey under my arm – a gift from one of my adult students who told me it was the only one within a 100km radius of the city.

I got an email today informing me that these experiences have now been immortalized in the form of a comic by MandMx. Besides the pleasure that comes from any site linking to FarWestChina - much less using it as an inspiration for a comic – I think anybody who has lived in China during a major holiday can relate in some way to this cartoon. Tomorrow I’m actually going to be pulling out an old Patriots-New England game my father-in-law recorded on DVD for me three years ago. It’s the same one I watched last year, but it just wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without it.

And in case you’re curious, we did get a little turkey for this year’s Thanksgiving. A few government friends took us out to dinner last night and surprised us by having a turkey specially trucked in from Urumqi. I guess it’s one of the perks being the only two westerners in our district. They apologized because they cooked it the only way they knew how – like roast duck – but it was a wonderful treat anyway.

So wherever you’re at, even if you’re not American, I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving. Thank you for taking time out of your day to keep up with what’s going on out here in the crazy province of Xinjiang.

Xinjiang's First Thanksgiving: A Poem

 
Once upon a time, in a land far to China’s west

where camels did roam and merchants had passed,

where a living was made with the cattle and soil

and no one yet cared for that ugly black oil,

Two cultures collided who shared nothing the same

not music, not language nor deities they claimed.

To celebrate these differences the leaders declared

that they had arranged this fictitious affair.

A large feast was planned and everyone invited

“Bring Your Own Meat” was the theme they decided.

The natives brought lamb and fruit and flat bread

And thankfully the Chinese didn’t cook that pig head.

The locals came wearing all their colorful clothes

surprised at the dull coats their visitors chose.

When Muslim men knelt on the prayer rugs they took

the Chinese read lines from Mao’s little red book.

All raised their glass for the evening toast

The natives said “Welcome” like any good host.

“We’re happy to meet you” the Chinese replied,

“And there’s many more coming on their way from Shanghai”.

The rest is just history, or that’s what I’m told

This friendly beginning has turned somewhat cold.

Now not quite a model of harmonious living

At least we can reminisce about Xinjiang’s first Thanksgiving

by: Josh Summers