In Minerva, we had a tradition called Friendsgiving. It is a gratitude event called Thanksgiving but for friends. Though we have graduated, we hosted our own Friendsgiving today.
Just like any other day, we came together to prepare a bountiful feast while engaging in lively conversations about the lives of our friends post-graduation. We also took a moment to express our gratitude for one another by writing heartfelt messages on each other's gratitude cards. It didn't matter whether we were close during our school years or not; everyone enthusiastically participated. Cyrus made pea soup. Jade and I made Sheperd pie. Gesiele made roasted vegetables. Gal baked the bread to break. Mateus baked apple and pumpkin pie, and Marinna prepared all the gratitude activities. Preparing for Friendsgiving is lots of effort because it's all about giving to our friends.
Their presence brought me a sense of comfort and safety that I hadn't experienced since my graduation. It felt like a gentle embrace, a reminder that even though we might not have known each other well during our school days, we could still come together as a tight-knit community, willing to support one another as we navigated life in a foreign city. It was a stark reminder that life after graduation wasn't always as rosy as we had once imagined.
It’s oddly interesting. Cooking and chatting seem to be the most normal activities friends could have. But as a Minervan, we all knew Friendsgiving wasn’t just sitting and eating together. It’s a time to let go of the prejudice we have against each other, celebrate where we are today, and be grateful to the community regardless of how much we know the person sitting in front of us. It’s a time to reconnect, to remember, to reflect on the bond that ties us together.
I don’t know how to describe this weird sense of feeling belonging but my heart says thank you. Glad to have you here.
I miss my friends so much after reading this post. This makes me sentimental and homesick.