Lasagna, fruit and vegetable dishes are among foods served at the Thanksgiving gathering in Beijing on Nov 27. (JAMAL BRANFORD / CHINA DAILY)

Late last month, the United States celebrated another Thanksgiving holiday, as did many Americans living in China.

This year, an American friend of mine and his wife here in Beijing invited me to their home for a party to mark the annual occasion. Because Thanksgiving is always held on the last Thursday of November, a normal working day in China, we had the party on a Saturday.

All the guests were obliged to bring a dish of some kind. This year, I made peanut butter cookies, which wound up being a big hit among the group. Cookies are not traditional fare for a Thanksgiving meal, but they seemed appropriate, given that this was not exactly a traditional Thanksgiving.

In part, this is one of the things I'm most thankful for.

This Thanksgiving, I experienced something I had never experienced before. This was the first time I ever celebrated the holiday with so many people who were not American. I was just one of few. We had people from Germany, Chile, South Africa, the Netherlands, Philippines, Canada (who, admittedly, do have their own version of Thanksgiving), Australia, Ukraine, Bangladesh and, of course, China.

It was an awesome multicultural event, with everyone contributing something delicious. Besides the traditional foods of turkey, gravy, stuffing, and cranberry sauce, there was lasagna, different types of breads with dipping sauces, a cauliflower casserole, some South African fudge, and many other foods.

We ate, drank, talked, played music and a game. It was a wonderful time enjoyed by all who attended. As I headed home afterward, I thought about how lucky I am to have made so many friends over the years from all over the world, and to have had the privilege of spending time with such a diverse group of folks to celebrate a holiday that is very dear to American people.

Like 2020, this year has been very difficult for me, as it has been for almost everyone across the world as we continue to deal with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the US, the number of those killed by the disease recently surpassed 800,000, and the death toll will sadly, in all likelihood, keep rising worldwide. Additionally, many people remain out of work, many businesses are still closed, and many would-be travelers continue to be barred from venturing to other climes.

I'm among the latter group. Not being able to travel doesn't seem like a big deal when you look at the big picture, but for me, it's been especially tough. I have a young daughter who lives overseas, and due to the pandemic, it has now been two years since I've been able to be with her. I absolutely hate that we can't be together, and so does she. It's something I struggle with daily.

This is why a holiday like Thanksgiving is so important. It's a time when people can enjoy being with their families and friends, while reflecting on the positive things about their lives; the things we should be thankful for.

I have a number of things to appreciate about my life.

I'm thankful for my daughter, who is actually doing quite well despite pandemic-related difficulties.

I'm thankful for my life, particularly that I haven't caught the coronavirus, and that I'm living in a place where the situation is largely under control.

I'm thankful, of course, for my family, friends and colleagues for playing their individual and collective roles in my life, which has been very beneficial to me, perhaps more than they know.

And I'm thankful for the opportunities I've had to help others when they have been in need. It's really a blessing to be able to help others when I can.

As we head into 2022, still staring the pandemic in the face, events like this year's splendid Thanksgiving gathering remind me of just how truly fortunate I am.

Contact the writer at jamal@chinadaily.com.cn