Nomad Thanksgiving

In this special Thanksgiving episode, I'll reflect on the tradition that means the most to me and how we've made it work thousands of miles from home. As an expat living in Switzerland, I share my journey of keeping the Thanksgiving spirit alive, even though the holiday doesn’t officially exist here. Discover the origins of my "Nomad Thanksgiving," an annual feast that brings together a melting pot of friends from all over the world, each bringing comfort foods from their own cultures. It's a tradition we call framily—friends who have become family.Listen in as I recount stories of gratitude, community, and adapting traditions, from cooking two small turkeys to make up for a European-sized oven to finding creative substitutes for ingredients like canned pumpkin and cranberries. I also dive into the deeper challenges and joys of maintaining family traditions as an expat, including how I'm passing Thanksgiving down to my daughter in a way that’s meaningful—even if it looks a bit different.So, whether you're an expat missing home or someone dreaming of building a life abroad, this episode is a heartwarming reminder that you don’t have to leave your traditions behind—you just might need to adapt them.In This Episode, You’ll Hear About:The origins of "Nomad Thanksgiving" and how it’s become a beloved traditionCreative ways to adapt holiday meals and ingredients abroadThe beauty of sharing traditions with friends from around the worldMy personal take on building a life abroad while staying connected to family traditionsConnect with me: Follow along with the expat life and join the conversation on Instagram @iammistelle. And remember, life’s too short to stay in one place—keep that passport handy!