I have had the wonderful oppertunity to experience yet another fantastic birthday outside of the States...this year celebrating a quarter of a century of ME! I thought that I could never have a birthday celebration as special as I did last year. Meeting up with other volunteers in Mahajunga to celbrate the anticipated election of President Barak Obama, wandering the streets of that beautiful city with new friends brought together by the incredible experience of living on that beautiful island, eating a 6000 Ariary Magnum ice cream (they only cost 1.25 here...), Marco´s Pizza and Wine, gelato! It was a wonderful wonderful birthday. But this year, I think my birthday was even more special because i had the chance to celebrate and share my day with new friends here in Ecuador that are becoming like my second family. But let me tell the whole story...because my plans of fun were almost foiled.
A few weeks before my birthday, I was chatting with Karla about my upcoming big 25th birthday and that I really wanted to do something to celebrate...it was also important to me that I be able to include my new friends and keep fostering the relationships that I was building. I wanted a fun, special, low cost event to celebrate with everyone and I also wanted to include a little PC goal two, sharing my culture with Ecuadorians. The idea struck me: a good old fashioned bonfire on the beach with hotdogs and marshmallows. Eureka! Karla made a stop my the office of the "Capitan" and he said to stop by the day of the bonfire to get the permit, free of charge. Holler!
So November the 5th rolled around, and Karla went to get our permit from the Capitan in the morning, and it was a no go. Due to the fiestas that had been going on in Bahia, all permits were suspended until further notice...there would be no bonfire on the beach. I got a little upset, I even cried a little (it was a stressful week! and this was the icing on the cake!!!) but I had already invited the guests - I wasnt goign to cancel my own party!!! I made the decision, we would move the party to the house! We borrowed the BBQ from Karla´s sister and set out to make our purchases: 80 hotdogs and buns, katchup, mayo, mustard, chips, soda, stuff to make salsa and guacamole, oh and some Pilsner, the national beer of Ecuador.
After some purchases and my daily work routine, I rushed back to the house to get everything ready in time for my party at 7. Time was tight, and after rushing around and stressing at 7:15 I was seated downstairs waiting for my guests to arive. No one. 7:30 no one. 8:00 still no one. I started to worried that I had planned a party for no one to enjoy...but at 8:20, right on Ecuatime, Humberto shows up with a pickup truck full of people, and yells "ya vengo" (I´ll be right back) as he drives away.
By 8:30 the whole downstairs patio is brimming with people. I turn up the music, Eik grab my camera (thank for being my photographer, girl!), Karla fires up the grill and the party begins! Within an hour, everyone has piled a hotdog or two or three to the brim with toppings, is chatting and everyone is eyeing the bags of puffed gelitan and sugar that remains on the table. Maria, one of the voluteers from Spain, says she has always wanted to roast marshmallowes like they do in the movies. I tear open the bags, hand out the skewers and the roasting fun begins! After everyone had their sugar highs in order, we played a few games, did a few dinamicas, and then as a big suprise, Father Pedro showed up to wish me a happy birthday! The party wrapped up at about 11:30, with everyone tired and content, at lease I hope so!
All in all, it was a super fun night. I loved every minute of it and know that I have to follow it up with another party next year. :D But really, the best part of the day was being with new friends, if I couldn´t have celebrated with friends and family back home, it was the next best thing!
Viva la Cumplañera!!!!
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