I Met A Huge Turkey!!!

Dear Friends,
Americans can be very funny celebrating their holidays! Thanksgiving is this week and the assistant principal for the 6th grade had to dress up in a turkey costume today! She did it because the students voted (using money in jars) on who they wanted to see dress up. The choices were their principal, and the 2 assistant principals. Ms. Young won (or lost depending on how you look at it ha...) The money collected will be used to purchase turkeys for people who need them on Thanksgiving. I went to the cafeteria and saw Ms. Young dressed up and then she came to every one's classroom so they could see her. It was so much fun and she made "gobble" noises like turkeys too. I laughed so much.
I am at Mrs. Carmichael's house for her family's dinner this week. They are excited that they will get to meet me. Tomorrow I will help her clean house (if I wake up in time) and begin fixing food. Thanksgiving is a time for families to get together (every 3rd Thursday of November) and eat food, visit, watch football or other shows on TV or play games. It is a national holiday in the USA for giving thanks for family, and what we have in our lives. The original Thanksgiving occurred when the pilgrims came to America and were not prepared for the harsh winter, many did not survive because they didn't have enough food. The American Indians taught the pilgrims what crops to grow and how to store food for the very cold winters. The pilgrims and Indians celebrated a meal together which became the basis for our Thanksgiving Day.
I think I better go to bed now and rest for all the activities tomorrow, so we are ready when everyone arrives on Thursday. I will eat light food tomorrow so I can make room for all the things I will try and the dinner.
I love you all, Bea

TED AND BIRBA

Dear friends,

I spent three days with Giorgia and I had a good time. Do you remember? She has got a dog, Birba. When I first met her I was frightened but now we’re becoming good friends. She is bigger than me, she will be 2 years old in December, she is very pretty and friendly. Do you like our picture?
I’ve also known Giorgia’s grandmother. She is an excellent cook and a very wise woman.
She prepared some traditional dishes of Mesagne and of Puglia: orecchiette (handmade pasta that are shaped like ears) with tomato sauce, fried meatballs, a good cake with chocolate… You can’t believe! I ate three pieces of it!!

I’ll never forget when Giorgia, her grandmum and I sat near the stove and ate roast chestnuts while Giorgia’s grandma told us her youth memories. She told us that when she was a child she used to play with rag dolls and with objects she found at home because many years ago they were poor and there was no money to buy toys.
Believe me, it was very interesting and pleasant to listen to her! I think that it is beautiful to stay indoors and spend some time with our granparents!

Love, Ted