On November 23, 2015 Consul General Heather Variava and Minister Counselor for Public Diplomacy Judith Moon celebrated Thanksgiving with journalists in Surabaya. Each year, Americans celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends on Thursday, November 26th. For the Thanksgiving Dinner CG Variava and PAO Moon held a cooking demonstration.
CG Variava was glad that the journalists were able to experience an American Thanksgiving. “Thanksgiving is a time to gather friends and family, and we are happy to share the experience with our Indonesian friends. The United States and Indonesia enjoy excellent relations, built on shared values and common interests. We hope that by having Thanksgiving here, we can share in these values and express gratitude for a more strengthened partnership ahead.”
CG Variava and PAO Moon showed the journalists how to make apple pie and corn bread stuffing using their family recipes. They then sat down for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with turkey, apple pie, corn bread and mashed potatoes. Thanksgiving itself is not associated with any particular religious beliefs because the celebrations open to all beliefs, and each American family celebrates with their unique family recipes.
