Thanksgiving is almost here, that most American of holidays and a welcome excuse to pause, eat far too much, and spend time with the people who matter most. Wedged between Halloween and Christmas, it remains refreshingly uncommercial: no gifts, no cards, just food, family and friends. At our table, each guest takes a moment to share what they’ve been thankful for over the past year. Personally, I’ve found it increasingly difficult recently to recognise the America that welcomed me nearly 30 years ago. Yet I chose to become an American and raise my family here, so this Thanksgiving feels like the right moment to remind myself why living and working here remains such a privilege.

First of all, it’s New York! Who wouldn’t want to live and work amid the fun, madness and chaos? As John Lennon said, “America is the Roman Empire, and New York is Rome itself.” That still holds true. The city may be tamer and safer than when Lennon made it his home, but it still buzzes with a raw energy. As Rem Koolhaas rhapsodised about New York, its delirium and cultural intensity make it feel more alive than any other city I know.

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