Roving Reporter: Students and Staff Share Their Thanksgiving Plans

ARYA MEHRABANZAD '14

RR: What do you like to eat on Thanksgiving?

AM: My mom makes a killer turkey and stuffing, but my favorite part is when she makes this, like, sweet potato casserole. So that’s the best.

RR: Do you ever make the sweet potato casserole?

AM: No.

RR: Do you cook at all?

AM: A little bit, after Thanksgiving though. I don’t want to ruin it for everybody.

RR: Turkey has a big carbon footprint. Have you considered eating tofurkey instead?

AM: Absolutely not. Turkey tastes too good.

RR: So, what are you thankful for?

AM: Family, friends. Being lucky to go to Harvard and all that.

RR: In recent news, Barbara Bush dissed Sarah Palin, and a boy wizard made $125 million at the box office. How do you think the Pilgrims would feel about the current state of the world?

AM: How do I answer that? I don’t know. How would you answer that question?

RR: I think they’d kind of like it. I don’t think the world is as screwed as we make it out to be.

AM: I agree with that. They’d be happy. They’d probably be happy because they started it all by coming over here.

RR: What’s your worst Thanksgiving memory?

AM: Once, I dropped the turkey while I was helping take it out of the oven. I’d say it’s not my fault, but it was pretty much my fault.

SARAH BOWER and ALICIA HARRIS, Florida

RR: What are your plans for Thanksgiving?

SB: We’re going out to an inn built in the 1700’s that serves Thanksgiving dinner.

RR: Cool. What’s your best Thanksgiving memory?

SB: Last year, my boyfriend’s mom burned the turkey. It looked like charcoal and it was six times smaller than it should have been.

RR: How long was that turkey in the oven?

SB: Like ten hours. Everyone else was gone and she fell asleep. So we had pizza for Thanksgiving dinner.

RR: Are you sure that’s not your worst Thanksgiving memory?

SB: Well, it was really funny so I liked it.

RR: Ever had tofurkey?

AH: Actually, yes, I was a vegetarian for ten years.

RR: What did you eat for Thanksgiving dinner when you were a vegetarian?

AH: I would have pasta and tofurkey. Tofurkey’s not bad. It’s just awkward because it’s a loaf. It’s softer and mushier than turkey.

DANIEL KAHNE, Chemistry Professor

RR: What are you cooking for Thanksgiving?

DK: My wife and I sort of cook turkey because we need to, but we make it interesting by making mole. It’s chocolatey and earthy. We make turkey less boring.

RR: Does your wife do most of the cooking, or do you?

DK: My wife’s a great cook. I just help her out.

RR: What are you thankful for?

DK: [Long silence.] I’m actually worrying about the people we’re electing. We’re handing over a messed up world to you guys.

RR: Fair enough. Do you think the outcome of last weekend’s game will put a damper on Yalies’ Turkey Day celebrations?

DK: Do we care?

LUCY F. MEDEIROS, Checker at Adams Dining Hall

RR: What will you do for Thanksgiving?

LM: Cook. I’m going to cook for my family. I usually make turkey and sometimes Brazilian food.

RR: What are your Thanksgiving highlights from years past?

LM: Going to my friends’ houses, my friends coming over to my house. Thanksgiving is nice, but it goes by fast.

RR: Does that mean you’re ready for Christmas?

LM: Yes. I have be. I have to start shopping early. I have four grandchildren.

RR: Really? Are you hitting up the sales on Black Friday?

LM: That’s too crazy. I did that once with my daughter. There are so many people that when the doors open, you have to run.

RR: Do you ever cook turkey for Christmas?

LM: No, because you make it on Thanksgiving, so if you’re going to make it on Thanksgiving, it’s like whaaat?! Turkey is a lot of meat. You don’t know what to do with it all.