Tables in the cafeteria at the Mission Education Center (MEC) are carefully laid with pine cone turkey decorations, bright-colored tablecloths and big pieces of pumpkin pie. Students at this San Francisco public school are "newcomer" children, recently arrived to the United States from various Latin American countries. The Thanksgiving meal — actually during lunch on the Friday before Thanksgiving — is the first time many of them have tasted turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce or pumpkin pie.
While the holiday is brand new to the children, the concept of gratitude is well understood. Teachers at MEC use Thanksgiving as an opportunity to ask their students to reflect on why they are grateful, and to share their life experiences with classmates. It is a moving experience for the teachers, many of whom have taught at MEC for more than 20 years.
"Our kids have gone through a lot," said first grade teacher Mario Chang. "Some of them have not seen their parents for many many years — I teach first grade and I have a student who has never seen her mom before."
Many MEC families have experienced being apart for lengthy periods of time. Parents left their children with relatives in their home countries while they immigrated to the U.S. After settling, they found ways to bring their children to join them.
At the Thanksgiving event, fourth and fifth grade students read essays about what they are thankful for. Mario Castro wrote about his family. His excerpt was translated from the original Spanish by teacher Lilly Chow:
This is the very first time that I am going to celebrate Thanksgiving Day; in my country, Honduras, I never heard of this special day...
I want to give thanks with all my heart because I am finally living with my mom. When I was four years old, my mom came to the United States. Nobody told me anything and so when my aunt arrived at the house, I asked her where my mom was, my aunt answered me that my mom had to leave because she couldn't find any work to support our family. I felt so very sad because my mom was my light, the one who took care of me and who gave me all of her love and affection. When I no longer had her near, I felt my heart was splitting and I'd cry so much that I couldn't even breathe, just thinking that she had abandoned me and that I would never see her again....It has been a few months since I came here to live with my mom. At first I felt very confused but then little by little I got used to her.
Another student, Daniela Renderos, wrote:
I give thanks for all the meals and food that my parents give me and for those which I receive at school. I consider myself very fortunate because I know that there are millions of people in the world who do not have anything and they starve to death. That's why food is such a treasure to me and it hurts me to see when others waste it throwing it away in the garbage. Finally, I give thanks for having the opportunity to learn in this school and for advancing more — well, in the school where I used to be, I didn't get to read every day nor did they teach me how to divide.
Teachers at the Mission Education Center face many challenges when trying to prepare their students for other district elementary schools, where most instruction is in English.
