GT Life｜Thanksgiving Break & Quiet Atlanta

The week before last, I was so busy I ended up falling sick. After pushing through a Friday lecture, I crashed at home for two days. Luckily, I felt better last week—just in time for Thanksgiving break! 🦃✨ I didn’t travel this year, but spent time catching up on homework, training for the Orlando Half Marathon, cooking for friends, and soaking in Atlanta's holiday vibe. 🏙️ Walking near Coda on Sunday, steam from heating systems mixed with traffic lights. Usually packed with impatient drivers, the road was empty and felt both cold and lonely. 🏃 Midweek run past Oakland Cemetery and near GSU. The buildings here are so beautiful! 🏈 On Thanksgiving, the school stadium was oddly loud (some event going on?). In the afternoon, I met someone I connected with online—her stories were fascinating! We talked for two hours at the GT Hotel. Hope we meet again someday! 🍲 Made short rib broth on Friday, and the resulting stew was amazing! Rich with spices, heat, fresh herbs, and a hint of lemon—probably my best stew yet. 🥐 Saturday morning at The Daily. Surprisingly quiet—even fewer people than breakfast spots back at UIUC. Feels like Atlanta doesn’t have a strong breakfast culture. Later, I visited the Piedmont Park holiday market. I expected crowds after Black Friday, but it was fairly empty—some vendors even packed up early. 🍆 Last gathering of the year! My eggplant casserole was a huge hit—gone in under 10 minutes! After dinner, my friends and I brainstormed research ideas by my desk. With the window cracked open, all we heard was the wind—exactly the kind of calm I’d described in my menu intro. 💨📚 #LifeInTheUS #StudyAbroad #Atlanta #GeorgiaTech #AtlantaLife #AtlantaFood #ThanksgivingVibes