As an immigrant family from India, Thanksgiving was new to us. In the ten years that we have lived here, we have adapted to this celebration and added our own twist to it. There is no turkey at our meals. For my parents, it is too unfamiliar. Instead, we always have chicken. My mother cooks it with traditional Indian spices, much like many of our other meals. But Thanksgiving is often different. Along with our usual food, we now also have traditional Thanksgiving side dishes like mashed potatoes and green bean casserole.
Thanksgiving for us is about combining the best of both of our cultures and creating something new. My mom and I spend the day in the kitchen preparing, just like many other people. In the end, the most important aspect of Thanksgiving universally is the time spent with family.