Trevin Chow

Here’s the random update from my life:

• Went to my first NFL game last Sunday and surprisingly I loved it. It helped that we whooped Chicago and along the way caused 5 false starts. I might actually like this whole football thing.
• Craig left for India last Thursday for 3 months as he pursues his outsourcing business. You’d think I’d be used to my best friend always leaving town, but each time it happens there is a big void in my life. I already miss you bro.
• Work has been a bit crazy as we figure out our release strategy and form the product plan for our new product that is shipping next year.
• I leave for my 4 week trip in China and India in exactly 16 days and I haven’t really done any preparation for the trip. This is adding further stress at work since I have that much less time to get things in order before I leave.
• I have to scramble to make a dessert to bring to Thanksgiving dinner at Matt and Denise’s tonight. I found a recipe I want to make but realize I don’t own an electric mixer. God almighty.
• My sister is finally coming for a visit this weekend. I really wanted her to come for the entire long weekend, but alas, Canadians don’t celebrate turkey day on the same day as you Americans. I’m getting ready for a weekend of bonding, eating and laughing. My sister is the best.
• I just signed up for a model and lighting photography class in early December. It was $200, but I figure it’s worth it because (a) I’ll finally get some formal instruction and (b) class is only 8 people.

That’s all, I’m off to try to beg/borrow/steal an electric mixer for this cheery cheesecake recipe. Wish me luck.

Time to educate my American friends on the topic of Canadian Thanksgiving.  Every fall, I always get asked:

1. Why is Canadian Thanksgiving so far in advance of the American Thanksgiving?
2. Why relationship is there between Canada and the pilgrims that settled/invaded the US?

Canadian Thanksgiving does not celebrate the pilgrims in any way!  In fact, it’s origin is traced back to 1576, where the English Pirate Explorer Martin Frobisher failed to find a northern passage to the Orient.  Instead, he landed near Greenland and mistakingly mistook the Inuits that greeted him for Asians.  Martin Froshiber held a celebration in Newfoundland to give thanks for a safe journey and for an abundant supply of food.  This was the first Canadian Thanksgiving.  Historians argue whether the date was in 1576 or 1578, but whatever… you get the gist of it.

So you’re probably asking yourself, “Trevin, if Canadian and American thanksgiving are unrelated, why do they share the same customs?”.  The reason is that during the American Revolution, Americans who were still loyal to England fled moved to Canada.  Along with their “move”, they brought along their American thanksgiving customs and practices. Thank god, because I really like pumpkin pie!

The actual day that Thanksgiving was celebrated changed quite a bit throughout history, but it wasn’t until 1957 that Canadian Parliament officially declared that Thanksgiving was to be celebrated on the second monday in October.

This concludes today’s lesson in history with Professor Trevin Chow. Good night.