23

I think I might venture to say that I have had the best birthday ever this year-which is saying a lot-trust me. My family has always done a phenomenal job at making my birthday a special day…so its not in the absence of a good birthday experiences that I say that I had the best birthday!

My birthday landed on a Wednesday this year. The actual day was going to be pretty hectic with work and the parent meeting that I had in one of my classes. So we decided to celebrate early on that Sunday. I have never liked planning my own birthday so Christ and Audrey took the reigns completely. All I did was show up J

And so it began. Sunday morning Christ, Audrey, Dawn and I went and got breakfast at a great restaurant overlooking the bay. From there we went to church-afterwards was when I received my first clue. Christa and Audrey had created a scavenger hunt all across the city. So, on my bicycle I went…from clue to clue…person to wonderful person…here was where the hunt led me:

1^st stop: Lunch with two of my friends from church. I met them at a vegetarian restaurant and had a wonderful time eating and chatting.

2^nd stop: Hanging out at a park with almost all the TAs from school. We talked, took pictures and laughed a lot J

3^rd stop: The sweet soup shop (a Vietnamese dessert that I absolutely love) with one of my closest friends (she is another TA from school) and her students (she teaches a few classes of her own on the weekends. Her students are SO wonderful. I hang out with them from time to time. They were some of the first people that made me feel so comfortable and at home). The lesson for that day had been translating birthday messages for me. So, one by one they went around the table and each greeted me with their own birthday wishes- “We wish you much happiness” “We wish you learn Vietnamese well soon.” “We wish you stay in Vietnam long time.” It was wonderful, absolutely wonderful.

4^th stop: Meeting Dawn to paint pottery. She brought coffee-thank goodness, I was fading at this point. We spent a relaxing hour or so, painting and chatting.

5^th stop: Eating at one my favorite places-an Indian restaurant with the APU crew. When I arrived and saw Audrey and Christa…I lost it. They hugged me and I just broke down. I was so overwhelmed. It had been such an incredible day-I felt so so so loved…

So after dinner-around 8pm…I thought the day was over.

Nope.

6^th stop: I had about half hour at home and then I followed my housemates to Dawn’s house. Where, about 20 some others were waiting for me! Once again, I lost it. People from World Relief, people from school, people from church…it was incredible. People had brought all kinds of yummy desserts. We spent a couple hours just hanging out and eating good food.

Then on my actual birthday I woke up early to skype Erin (my friend and HIS years mentor). She had sent a package that I promised I would wait to open on my birthday-and I promised that I would skype her in to experience me opening it. Before I could skype her though, two of my friends that live on the next street over came and sang happy birthday to me as I listened form the balcony. Then, with Audrey and Christa accompanying me, we skyped Erin to find that Becca and Ian were accompanying her! With a group of witnesses, I opened an incredible package. It was full of letters from friends and fun gifts.

Then Becca told me that she was coming for a month in June.

Then there was a celebration for me with the staff at school.

Then Audrey and Christa got me a special dinner.

Ok and that doesn’t even begin to cover the texts, calls, emails, e-cards, the cards from my parents, the cards from my grandparents and the other many gifts that I received. This would literally be too long of a post if I were to say everything that people did for me for my birthday.

I was so overwhelmed with love on my birthday. Thank you to all who were involved! I will forever remember my 23^rd birthday!

Grace and peace and the third way,

Kait