Thursday, November 24, 2011

THE FIRST CHAMORRO THANKSGIVING

amoeba.com

November, 1905.  Jose sat in class, third grade, listening to Mrs. Vandercutt, wife of the navy quartermaster who cured her boredom by teaching in Agaña's schools.

"Children, there's no school tomorrow because we must celebrate Thanksgiving."

"What is Thanksgiving, teacher?" Jose asked.

"We eat turkey and mashed potatoes and give thanks to God for being good to the pilgrims who landed on Plymouth Rock," said Mrs. Vandercutt.

"What's a turkey?" a mystified Jose asked.

"It's like a big chicken," she said, caught off-guard by the question.

"OK," said Jose.

The next day, Jose took his family took his puzzled mom, dad and siblings on pilgrimage to Inarajan, Merizo, Umatac, Sumay and Agat churches, finished at Camel Rock, made kåddu of the biggest chicken they could find on their ranch and mashed a pot of boiled kamuti.

"Jose, håfa bidåda-ta?"  asked Jose's mom.

"Fana'an assimilation ma å'ålok," said Jose.

"Ai, gråsias a Dios na umeskuekuela hao, Jose!" said mama.

MAGOF HA'ÅNEN MAN NÅ'E GRÅSIAS!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

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