This is the second consecutive birthday I have spent overseas, away from familiar family an friends (although not absent of newly found friends, last year being in Queenstown, NZ). However, unlike last year, I got to celebrate it twice! However, I wish it was on a bit better terms, in that I haven't been feeling well all month. Nevertheless, my first birthday celebration occurred in the town next to my village with my work zone partners LaRocha, Tatiana, Jubal, and Jessica. The day before, Tuesday, we met at "luumo" (the weekly market) for a meeting and decided that we needed to come back the following day to a local campement to celebrate (despite my suggestion of just getting a drink at that time and it was fine). We bought goods to make no bake cookies (flour, sugar, peanut butter, and a chocolate spread) mixed them into balls, and kept them in the fridge and put in an order for dinner with plans to all stay in Salemata. The following day, we all biked in, Tatiana with a chicken on the back of her bike along with a bottle of palm/honey wine. I was flooded with birthday texts (as I anticipated not being in cell phone service to be able to talk to people with many plans for future celebration). I was surprised with a hand drawn picture made by Jubal, framed in bamboo, and an adorable card from LaRocha. Hours later, although enjoying music and conversation in the meantime amongst ourselves, dinner was finally prepared (salad, fries, chicken), we ate, and left once a number of locals arrived and turned on the television to rival our music. Our intent to watch a movie failed, but overall it was a really great night!
The second birthday celebration happened in the regional capitol, Kedougou, amongst more volunteers within the region. Although we did not have electricity or running water, we made a fabulous Mexican dinner and Meera and LaRocha made me a chocolate cake with frosting! It was decorated with flowers, words, candles, and all! It was really something I needed to lift my spirits with this whole illness thing I've been trying to overcome.
Then! We got electricity back, I was able to check online and found many birthday wishes awaiting my viewing. Moral of the story, it is really nice to have a day of recognition when you are away from so many people you care about, and you know that they are thinking of you. Thank you everyone!
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