Happy Thanksgiving (and birthday!)

My newly made international friend, Claire Xavier (which sounds much better when she says it than when I introduce her) from Paris came home to Marietta to experience her first Thanksgiving dinner. I met her while interviewing the director of the International House at school. He told me how the original creators of the International House Program had lived in Montpellier, France, and we got to talking from there (since that is where I lived/worked). The program originally began with the exchange of five Parisians students and has grown extensively since then. We now have every continent represented.

Claire enjoying brunch at The Flying Biscuit in midtown-I love this place and if your taste buds haven't had the chance to come here and eat, it must go on the "good eats" list!

For those unaware, JSU's IHOP (International House of People) is a really wonderful program where each international is paired to room with an American. The program was founded on the idea "Know one another, and you will love one another." Therefore, there is always an exchange of customs, food, thought, and overall culture going on between all who live in the House. (*something to anticipate: the president's column this week will focus on the ideas on which the International House Program was founded and continues to run today.)

Visiting the brand spankin' new World of Coke (I'm always glad to have visitors so I can be a tourist in my own city-this place is really quite neat! For those not currently in the dirty A, you can take the virtual tour for now:)

Don't worry, the Tasting Room still exists!

And so does a new comfy seating area-It's pretty much a set-up of what your living room would look like if you were the master Coke collector-

Coca-Cola is known for a distinct marketing technique of simply giving away its product for free. Two years ago I worked the marketing campaign "Give, Live, Love Coke." I drove to two Publix Supermarkets a day (in my polar bear wrapped PT Cruiser) and literally gave away 2-liter bottles of the then new Coke Zero product. In its beginning bottles, only 9 bottles of Coke was sold a day--free give-a-ways helped attract more orders at soda shops.

Upon leaving the new World of Coke, everyone is offered a free bottle below a sign reading "Have a Coke on us." Don't mind if I do. (And this gift is given right before entering the gift store...which I'm sure makes one want to leave with even more Coke goodies).

Claire also got to help make turkey sugar cookies for Thanksgiving--she took pictures because she said it was "American just like in the movies." I was intrigued to find out what she thinks to be very American, since we have our perceptions of the French. (Yes, she bathes daily and shaves.) We heard a group of kids singing "Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer" while eating at Atlanta Bread Company" and she asked if people really got together in groups and went out in the cold and sang at people's houses. "Oh, caroling! Yes, we most certainly do," I told her. She was excited and couldn't believe it-she thought it was something Hollywood created!

Claire and Carly happy to be sitting in front of one of my mom's fires. This was just before the masses entered for Thanksgiving dinner.

Thanks to everyone in the family that made Claire feel welcome. I know when I was living overseas, I was so happy when invited to lunch or, even better, a family outing. Even though it wasn't my family, that atmosphere was wonderful to be around. I'm thankful for the opportunity to give to an international here the gracious hospitality that was shown to me there.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving too! (And the happy birthday part is Kyle winning--yes, receiving a present mailed home from him over Thanksgiving, he extended my birthday the farthest! I will soon have to try out my new Camel pack:) THANKS MISTER!