Day 178: the first day I felt homesick.
When planning this trip, I knew I would be spending several holidays away from home and family, but I was ok with that. But when this idea became a reality staring me right in the face, it felt really different. I wanted to be back in America spending Thanksgiving with the ones I love.
Buuuuut that wasn’t going to happen. So instead, I sucked it up and planned a Thanksgiving party in Bali.
The first task was inviting friends. In Canggu I was friends with a Kiwi, a Hungarian, an Egyptian, and Dutch guy. None of them have ever experienced a true Thanksgiving before, and I was thrilled to share the tradition. They were pumped, I was pumped. It was going to be good.
Second task was figuring out where to eat. Finding an authentic Thanksgiving meal was just wishful thinking, so I tried to find the next best thing. I remember passing by a BBQ place a few days ago, so I did a quick Google search and found Goodwood: Texas-Styled BBQ.
Y’all, I was ecstatic.
My friends and I arrived to the restaurant mid-afternoon, and we had the place to ourselves apart from the American guy streaming football on the TV.
With the smell of a smoker going and the sound of football playing in the background, I could close my eyes and feel like I was back home. I almost started crying.
I actually got to meet the owner of the restaurant, and her husband and family are the ones from Texas. Being able to talk with her about home, Thanksgiving, family – it comforted me more than she’ll ever know. I’m very thankful for meeting Nicole.
My friends and I gathered around the table, and we ordered SO much food. Six appetizers and three meat plates. We ate until it hurt. I also shared Thanksgiving traditions and taught them how to country dance.
Overall, I’m so thankful for today. I’m thankful for the incredible friends I’ve met while in Canggu, I’m thankful for a Texas-styled restaurant in Bali, and I’m thankful that I have the opportunity to experience all of these travel adventures and more.