Philippine Birthday

I have not been home in Massachusetts for my birthday in the last 4 years. I guess that's one of the signs of growing up. For my 21st and 22nd, I was in India, then 23rd half was spent on a plan coming from Hawaii and then celebrating in Missoula with my friends. This year, for my 24th, I wasn't even home in Daraga. I was in Manila for an HIV/AIDS Behavior Change Workshop at the Peace Corps office with my staff counterpart, youth counterpart and 7 other PCVs and their counterparts.

It started off great with finding a woman's really nice cell phone in the back of a taxi on my way to the Peace Corps office. She was so so SO appreciative because it had a 98% chance of never returning to her again.

The lost cell phone reward

Then there was A LOT of singing and cards. And a scrapbook that the youth at the village made and gave to me before I left for Manila. They were creative and thought ahead. Application of life skills-SCORE!

Then Sarah, Roman and I killed it with our HIV/AIDS youth leader project proposal in front of USAID and Peace Corps staff.

Although early in the night, my face is indicative of how it progressed

After that, the real fun began. Since we were staying at Pension Natividad, aka volunteer central, there were a bunch of other volunteers around to go out with us. We went out in the Fort Bonafacio area of Makati, which is one of the poshest neighborhoods in Manila. I think the highlight for me was going to an ice bar because I have not been able to see my breath in over a year. Let me just preface the next part with the fact that I have not gotten drunk in a really long time because of some medicine I had to be on and my stomach hasn't been right in at least 4 months. Towards the end of the night I had too good of a time and threw up all over the streets of Makati. Not so pretty. Luckily, I was out with some great friends who took care of me and made sure I got home safely. It was a definite struggle functioning the next day and functioning included getting to the airport and getting home. It was so nice just to lay in the air con and relax when I got home.

All in all it was a wonderful birthday that made me feel really loved, happy for 24 amazing years and excited to see how the years will keep getting better.

No, I did not eat any of these foods on my birthday, but they are all classic Filipino celebration foods.  My host family from training made this for me and celebrated in my honor, even though I wasn't there.

UPDATE (May 31):
Just when I thought my birthday was over, my office threw me a surprise party on Monday! And it was a complete surprise.  They told me that we were all going to the main office at 4PM for a staff meeting before our big General Assembly on Friday (today).  Let me just put it out there that they are the best.  They know me so well.  There were party hats, videoke, tons of fruit (a rarity at Filipino birthday parties), balloons with my name on them, a beautiful framed picture of me with notes from everyone and a personalized cake.  I am so lucky to be a part of the Simon family.