Although the holiday of Thanksgiving is only officially celebrated in a few countries in the world, people everywhere have something to be thankful for. For this episode, we sat down in Amman, Jordan, with a few English language students from various countries throughout the Middle East and North Africa to ask them what they are thankful for. We hope their answers encourage and inspire you to also count your blessings, joining their multinational chorus of thanks from around the world.

Even at the young age of fourteen, Ghazal Al-Madadha already has quite an extensive acting résumé and began reciting poetry as young as six years old. As a Jordanian national arts ambassador, she aims to empower other girls to make headway in Arab society and culture through the arts and beyond.

As a self-proclaimed small town kid who grew up on her grandfather's farm, Aubrey learned the value and joy of hands-on labor from observing and working alongside her family. During a successful run in the corporate world, various factors—including impending burnout—led Aubrey to begin seeking a creative outlet to combat and manage stress. A chance encounter with a scrapped piece of furniture at the apartment dumpster during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic led her into the world of furniture resale and restoration—and ultimately to her own restoration as a person and creative.