SURPRISE

I've experienced my first birthday in Rwanda. I like to avoid my birthday so it really wasn't that different from birthdays at home. I just realized how funny that statement was… of course it was ridiculously different.

So my birthday began like any other. I got up at and went to work. I had breakfast served to me at the guest house and watched a Korean soap opera (I've never watched so many soap operas in my life, Korean so far is my favorite).

The strangeness began around lunch time. I received about 5 calls in a row. One from one of my Rwandan language teachers who sang happy birthday to me in Kinyarwandan. Then all the guys I was having lunch with proceeded to sing to me in English once they realized it was my birthday.

Probably the most amusing part was watching people guess my age. I pass as 'youthful' in Rwanda.

Then the next day my coworker Jeanne told me she was having a special guest over for dinner, and that I should attend. After some questionable turn of events, which I gullibly went along with, it was revealed that the special guest was actually ME! It was an impromptu birthday party, with Doritos and everything.

Everyone signed two cards, in front of me. Literally they signed two different cards, the same group of people. Strange but whatever. I received gifts - a box of biscuits. and had a little dance party with music. All in all, a lot of well wishes and fun.