Thanksgiving Celebration

Today’s session of the Gabfest Club ("Window on America", Dnipropetrovsk / Ukraine) had a topic Thanksgiving Traditions in the USA. Our American volunteer Mr. Jason also attended this session and added the first-hand experiences and comments about this traditional US celebration. Mr. Jason was sincerely thanked by the Club for his loyal friendship and offered a symbolic gift.
The Club members had an opportunity to speak about Thanksgiving. First they told what they know, later – translated the facts and figures about American celebration and described slides. The group was offered several White House videos – about the traditional Thanksgiving events. 

The pardoning of a turkey ritual was new to some of the club members. The video that impressed the group most was the one from the Thanksgiving dinner for the US veterans where the First family served food to the invited citizens. The video about pumpkin pie making was a tasty tail of our official part.
The group was offered an art break – a visit to the DOUNB Library art department to attend the display of art works (paintings in sand and shells) by the local painter Svitlana Ivanchenko.
The second part of the session was arranged as a Thanksgiving party. The Club members were offered a menu of traditional American dishes and snacks. The highlight of the menu was baked Turkey breast with cranberry sauce cooked by the WOA’s Head Ms. Svitlana Usenko. All the participants found the dish delicious.
During the dessert time we had a pumpkin pie competition. The winner was an American style pie baked by WOA’s Head Svitlana Usenko. Ms.Valentina, the club’s activist who baked the Ukrainian style pie, also received compliments for her treat.
The Club members suggested a karaoke session and had fun singing English songs.
The Club members thanked the WOA staff – Svitlana and Tamara – for the wonderful atmosphere created for the English learners. They thanked the American people and the US Embassy in Kyiv for their wonderful gifts to the WOA facility and Ukrainian community in Dnipropetrovsk.  
In the heartwarming atmosphere of the Thanksgiving dinner the club members developed new friendships with fellow citizens and our American guest.
 
The session was most enjoyable and inspired to build more bridges between American and Ukrainian people.
Number of participants – 35 persons.
Have a look at more pictures, please