turning 23

My birthday was really good. My roommate woke me up at 7:30am with, "Mika, your dad is on the phone and he says that I have to wake you up, I'm really sorry!" I walked out of my room into a world of colorful suspended balloons that they had hung during the night. I got to talk to my dad and stepmom and sister, which I don't get to do very often, so that was a great start to the day. After going to the gym, I went for hummus in the shuk with a friend and the roomie, who was hilarious because she hadn't gone to sleep the night before (writing a paper) and was completely dilerious.

Afterwards I went to my friend's house and had beers and a lovely chill afternoon with good company and conversation. I went home for a shower and a talk with my mom before people started showing up so that we could go to dinner. We went to this really good sushi place. It was a kind of random group of people - roomie, friends from that area, and friends from work. But everyone got along really well, so it was totally comfortable.

Four of us rallied after dinner to go have a drink at this cool pub I know. And finally, three were left standing at this Russian jazz club - where the live music ended right as we walked in. They put on Russian pop/hard rock, and about 10 Russians spent the next hour+ "dancing" (jumping up and down hideously off-beat) and "singing" (yelling the words) at the top of their lungs. 10 doesn't sound like many, but that place is TINY. I couldn't stop staring, with my jaw on the floor. I know it must have been rude, but I have never seen anything like it.

So all in all, it was a great day. I feel really lucky that even just 6 months into my new life in a new country, I have people who care enough about me to want to celebrate my birthday with me, and who went out of their way to make it special. Of course I wish I could have seen my family and friends from home, but this was also wonderful.

And I'll be home in just over one week!