EXPAT Tales
In our "Expat Tales," series, meet the Cooper-Darricau family. Angie, an American, and Ludovic, a Frenchman, live in Thailand with their son, Ethan, celebrating a lively multicultural Thanksgiving. I met this lovely family during our time in Bangkok as members of the Nichada Thani village community .Angie was an officer and fellow volunteer at the International School Bangkok's Booster Club—no shift was boring with her; she was always engaging and enjoyable to be around. Ludovic, a memorable member of the Breadfest Club, the baking class I established in Bangkok, is cherished for the legendary Sourdough Starter he created—a story best kept as a Breadfest Club insider’s secret! (wink!)
I'm always honored that each Thanksgiving, while I was still living in Bangkok, they opted for my Sourdough Dinner Rolls. It's a modest addition that I hope fits well with their holiday favorites. Join us as we explore how Thanksgiving comes alive in this multicultural household through the Copper-Darricau family's heartwarming and special celebration straight from their dinner table!
Meet the Family:
Q: Tell us about your culturally blended family. How did your unique backgrounds come together to shape the vibrant family you have today?
Angie: "Ludovic and I met through work. We both had design in common and had much to relate to as far as our industry. We are both very lucky to have warm and welcoming in-laws on both sides."
World Explorers:
Q: How long have you been embracing expat life, and which countries have you called home along the way?
Angie: "Since 2017, Hong Kong (3 years) and Thailand, 4 years so far."
Thanksgiving in Thailand:
Q: Celebrating Thanksgiving in Thailand with your American-French roots must be intriguing! What delicious dishes make it to your table from each culture?
Angie: "I adore Thanksgiving but it is a relatively new holiday for Ludovic, as the French do not celebrate the holiday. Most of the traditions are from my family. I still pull out every year my grandmother's hand written recipes for her dressing, Pumpkin and Pecan Pies. This is how you know I am Southern... I would never call it stuffing! Ludo's contribution is choosing fine French wines to our dinner!"
Funny Family Moments:
Q: Can you share some amusing cultural surprises of funny moments that have popped up during Thanksgiving preparations? Any dish that gets a laugh or sparks curiosity ?
Angie: "For 10 years living in West Palm Beach, Florida, we celebrated with our dearest friends and our son's best childhood friend. My friend was from Mississippi, and oyster dressing was her specialty. Fresh Cranberry Sauce is a must; you won't find canned Cranberry Sauce on my table! To be honest, Ludovic does not love Turkey, however, he tolerates this for 1 day of the year! There is so much food, and he always says that I could feed an army! Thanksgiving leftovers are literally for the rest of the week!"
Children's Perspective:
Q: How do your children view and engage in Thanksgiving festivities? Is there a tradition they adore or an aspect of the celebration that excites them the most?
Angie: “As with most families that celebrate Thanksgiving, the most common tradition would be to break the wish bone! The one who ends up with the larger piece of the wish bone has their wish come true, fingers crossed! The other one is to give thoughtful answers to “What are you thankful for?” This is asked before the meal begins and everyone goes around the table to share what they are thankful for! Ethan is most excited for the Pecan Pie. Ethan makes the Pecan Pie for our family now for the last 5 years and it is delicious!“
Building Bonds Abroad:
Q: How do you create that warm, communal feeling and build friendships during the holidays as an expat family? Are there events or traditions with fellow expats that you cherish?
Angie: “Ludovic’s Father is usually our only guest for Thanksgiving. It is a challenge because our school, ISB, doesn’t close to observe Thanksgiving! However, I will take the day to cook all day and I am in my happy place.”
Keeping Tradition:
Q: Living far from your homelands, how do you ensure that your Thanksgiving celebrations stay meaningful and true to your roots?
Angie: “The hardest part of keeping traditions abroad is, believe it or not, finding all of the ingredients that one would need for such an elaborate meal. I have found fresh Sage is the hardest herb for me to find here in Thailand. It is also hard to find big, bright, round orange Pumpkins and if you do find one it is cost prohibitive. I do have to improvise and use canned Pumpkin Pie purée! I have learned to pivot and turn and get creative. I now use all shapes and colors of local gourds for my decor!”
Finding 'Home':
Q: As an expat family with diverse origins, where does "home" truly feel like for you?
Angie: “Real home for us is in the US. Florida or Texas! That is where my family is and all of our long term friends. However, it seems most Expat’s time in a specific place seems to be fleeting and a quick turnaround before having to move on to a new location and adventure. I find this community of Expats is much more quick to build friendships and not just let time pass on by! Service projects and socials are quickly organized and the friendships start to form!”
Gratitude Circle:
Q: As we celebrate Thanksgiving, can you share three things you are most thankful for this year?
Angie: “As we grow older….Health moves to the top of my list. God, Family & Friends are always what I am most grateful for!”
Thanksgiving Thoughts:
Q: What heartfelt message would you like to share with our readers about Thanksgiving?
Angie: “Whether you celebrate Thanksgiving in the traditional American sense or not, everyone can find a reason to celebrate an elaborate meal with family and friends and fellowship, anywhere and anytime!”
Thank you, Cooper-Darricau family, for sharing your cross-cultural Thanksgiving tradition with us. Your heartfelt traditions and warmth beautifully capture the essence of "Expat Tales," offering an inspiring glimpse into your holiday.
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