Grateful for each hand we hold Gathered round this table.

Today is Thanksgiving Day in the United States and although I am currently abroad, that is not reason enough to keep me from celebrating it. My community mate and I are super excited. We understand that the founding of our country was not particularly a pleasant one, but this is the day of the year where we give thanks for everything. Everything that we have been blessed with and truly feel gratitude and gracious. 2010 was the first and last Thanksgiving I spent with my family.

During my time in college I spent Thanksgiving either on campus or with friends in neighboring states. They were the best memories. My first Thanksgiving I remember being invited to spend Thanksgiving with several different friends and I felt so loved. Unfortunately, I had found out a friend was going to be staying on campus alone for the long weekend. Not wanting to be a bad friend and not wanting to impose on other people I kindly turn down the invites and opted to stay on campus with my friend. It was one of the best decisions I ever made. We went to the local grocery store, picked up some Hungry Man Turkey Dinners, an apple cobbler, some sparkling cider, and cheese and crackers. We set up a makeshift table in the middle of her dorm-room and sat on pillows. We ate dinner and watched Pirates of the Caribbean. We had no way of heating up the cobbler and fortunately for us, her RA was on campus and offered his oven to us. One of the greatest memories ever and I am happy to say we are still friends to this very day.

My last Thanksgiving home was bittersweet. My cousin's husband had passed in October of 2010 and little did I know, but it would be the last Thanksgiving spent with my grandmother and my aunt. No one was a celebratory mood. My grandmother, a devout Catholic and whom seldom swore and never drank and was on a strict diet due to her declining health had succumbed to disgusting gloriousness known as "Thanksgiving." She picked up a fried turkey leg with her hand and devoured it and noticed there was a wine bottle on the table. As she brought the bottle closer to her, she realized it was empty, but that did not stop her from trying to suck the remaining drops of wine. We looked at her in silence, shock, and awe. For that moment in time, we forgot our sorrow and worry.

Soon enough I will be in the States and celebrating Christmas (and hopefully with snow), but what I am most grateful for this year (as I make my way back from my tangent) are my community members, students, family and friends. I am grateful for community because although living in community has been a challenge for me, I have been blessed with a community who has supported me in both the best and worst of times. They challenged me and brought out the best in me. They have taught me so much and they have accepted me for who I am. They look pass my flaws and appreciate what I bring to our home. I am grateful for my students who I have had the pleasure to accompany for the past two years and who will be graduating tomorrow. Whenever I think of them, I smile. Whenever I have been unhappy at work or with life, seeing my students and interacting with them made me forget about the nonsense. Like my community mates, they taught me so much and continue to surprise and amaze me. Finally, I am grateful for my family and friends. They have been my rock through the good, bad, and ugly. They have heard me rant, scream, seen me angry, and allow me to vent. They have laughed and cried with me and picked me up and encouraged me everytime I felt like throwing in the towel. I don't know where I would be without them.

I look forward to spending Thanksgiving tonight with my community mates, some of them of them who have become good friends. I am thankful for everything I have in my life and thankful for the people in it. I am thankful for my time here in Chile and for this experience. Happy Thanksgiving!

We're Half Awake in a Fake Empire

Tomorrow is Election Day in my home country. This is the second time I have voted for the President outside of my hometown of Chicago. I am nervous and worried. Anxious and excited. I am experiencing many emotions and worried about the future of my "patria." People at my school have asked if I voted and who I voted for. It is no secret that in 2008 I was one of the biggest Obama supporters. I donated whatever little money I had, encouraged others to register to vote, and supported everything and anything Obama. I believed in his vision for the United States. I believed in his message of hope. I was proud to be an American the day he was elected to office.

Fast forward to 2012 and I am wearily optimistic this time around. Maybe it is because I am no longer a college student and having to growing up during these past four years and being a contributing member to today's world. Words no longer mean so much to me unlike actions. My new motto in life: Actions, but rather non-actions, speak louder than words." I understand he was dealt a bad hand of cards (the economy, two wars, housing crisis). Obama has made good on some of his promises, but yet, there are promises he made he has yet to fulfill.

Politics in the States is nothing like it once was. Party lines have divided friends, families, neighbors, and in general, people. To call yourself a "Republican" or a "Democrat" can either turn people off or make people angry. Government officials are now incorporating religious dogma into their policy, and instead of moving forward, it seems the US is moving backwards. People will judge you rather than get to know you. If you say you're a "Democrat," some people will assume you are a "Socialist, ALCU supporter, baby killer, and left-wing liberal" and if you say you're a a "Republican" some people will assume you are a "Creationist, gun-nut, backwards thinking, bible thumper extreme right-wing, fox news fanatic." The real issues get lost in the name calling and slander. I have friends and family who are supporters of both parties, but sometimes it is impossible to talk reasonably with them. You're either with them or against them. I used to think Libertarians and communists were ridiculous, but these days they seem to make more sense.

President Obama was criticized for immediately calling on FEMA after Hurricane Sandy and Governor Romney dodged any questions pertaining to his "Dissolving FEMA" statement he made during the primaries. Obama has been criticized for not making enough change and giving handouts to the 1% on Wall Street while the middle class still suffers big losses due the mistakes and errors while Romney has stated that illegal immigrants will "self deport" and "Corporations are people." I used to really like Romney. There other many other things Romney is championing against (women's rights, gay rights, the rights of minorities, the middle class, education, etc.), but the list is endless. During his time as governor of Massachusetts, state residents received universal healthcare and same-sex marriage was legalized. Romney was everything he is now campaigning and running against. I used to think Romney was a moderate, but now I can see that he represents everything that is wrong with the US. If I thought Sarah Palin vice presidency was bad news, a Romney/Ryan administration is no laughing matter.

I am sorry for ranting and I apologize if none of this makes any sense and is completely and utterly incoherent, but I am worried for the future. Obama has done his best by trying to repair the US's image and foreign relations, but this election is vital. If people thought the 2008 election was an important one, I feel this one is more significant. More significant because the true essence of what is Democracy, what is freedom and liberty is at stake. If you are in the United States and are eligible to vote, go out and vote. Si no votas, no tienes derecho a voz. Si no votas, no tienes el derecho para quejarse. In the words of John F Kennedy, "The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all." If you are an eligible voter, your vote truly does count. Even if your candidate is not elected, you still played a vital part in the process. People, please go out and vote. One vote can make or break an election. One vote can change the course of history. Actions or non-actions speak louder than words.