In spite of the incredible sights seen and new friends made on a recent trip out of the country, I was extremely thankful to 1) survive an 11-hour flight in the economy section of a very large plane, and 2) see a sign as we passed through customs at the Denver Airport that said: “Welcome to the United States!”

Our 10 days oversees opened our eyes to a wealth of history, cultures and eating styles. In Amsterdam, our Dutch friend, Ellen, took us to a local cafe where she thankfully translated the menu for us. She suggested I order stamppot— a traditional dish of vegetables (kale, in this instance) mixed with mashed potatoes and served with a choice of sausage or meatball. I chose the meatball…one giant meatball. I quietly asked Ellen if it was customary in the Netherlands to ask for a container for leftovers. She emphatically shook her head that it is not.

In Germany, we were escorted to a traditional brauhaus where we were served authentic and hearty German food including sausage, sauerbraten (heavily marinated meat), sauerkraut and potatoes. Our guide wasn’t wrong when she told us, “We eat a lot of pork.”

After that, we explored Cologne’s beer culture—a refined way to say we hit a few local breweries or what our guide called “pub crawling.” This city boasts more than 100 brewpubs that specialize in the city’s famous Kölsch—a light, crisp beer that, by law, can only be produced in Cologne.

Warning. Don’t be fooled when your beer is served in a small narrow glass. Before mine was half empty, another one appeared on the table. The only way to say “no more, thank you” is to place a coaster on top of your glass.

Thankfully we didn’t eat this way every day or I would have had to buy an extra seat on the plane home. Meals on our river ship made this dietitian smile. Even the morning scrambled eggs were served with roasted tomatoes, cooked carrots, mushrooms and yes, even beans. And fresh berries accompanied locally sourced yogurt. Yes, please.

And then there were pastries. And wine. And Switzerland’s famous chocolate. (Never refrigerate chocolate, our local guide instructed. It causes a loss of flavor.) Moderation in all things, yes?

Back home again, I now see the cherished traditions of our American Thanksgiving a bit more clearly. Yes, we will have turkey. And dressing—a hybrid of my mom’s and my mother-in-law’s. And of course we’ll have a relish tray in remembrance of my sister Lynda.

Whatever our traditions, whatever our culture, this is a special time to express thanks for the life we have. May you have a blessed Thanksgiving.

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