On Thanksgiving night, my program and I boarded two buses with all the faculty and friends we could fit and drove out to Baden, a small city outside of Vienna.  There, we entered a huge family Heuriger, a type of traditional Austrian restaurant, and were seated in large dining room with a roaring fire and festive decorations.  

Then, each table was brought drinks, appetizers, and, of course, a traditional Thanksgiving meal! We had turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and every other type of side you could imagine.  Just when we thought the meal couldn’t get any better, students and faculty began to play piano and sing! Some sang original pieces, others played Christmas music on the piano, and one girl even sang Edelweiss, a song from The Sound of Music, accompanied by an accordion. By the end of that song, everyone in the restaurant was singing!  Of course, the night was not complete without warm apfelstrudle and sweet vanilla ice cream.  

This Thanksgiving I was very thankful for my study abroad experience and the amazing friends I have been given to spend it with.  I could not have asked for better people to share this meal with.