My birthday began already on Monday when I walked into school after two weeks of break, and comments immediately filled the air like, "I know someone who has a birthday this week..." followed by poking my side, inconspicuously. The excited attitude was really quite contagious. : ) I couldn't help but smile and beam too at the thought of my birthday! Already on Monday in school, someone handed me a birthday letter from one of my German friends that had moved to Brazil. The birthday happiness began with a bang! On Tuesday, more comments as to my birthday were brought up in conversation by my friends, anyone with a Facebook or SchülerVZ (they receive notices), or a person that I had just managed to write my birthday in their planner at some point. I received another birthday card that night from America and proudly looked at the nice little birthday pile forming, waiting until Friday to open anything. Wednesday is a day that I am not really up to commenting on, you can read below if you want to. : ) Then Thursday was actually a guy friend of mine's, Marius', birthday, so the birthday wishes were flowing in the air. I thought it was funny enough as someone ran up to Marius and gave him a huge hug, right before immediately turning to me and saying, "and guess who has a birthday tomorrow!" I endured the entire day as my friends would tell me I wasn't allowed to listen to a conversation or covered my ears. The excitement for tomorrow was building no matter what! I was talking to Anne on Facebook Thursday night, and she was asking me about my birthday and whether or not I was excited. I, truthfully, confessed how it was exciting and I wanted to spend my birthday with as many people who loved me as possible, including my exchange friends. Anne typed in a short response: "Why not?" I didn't give it more than a second's thought before I ran downstairs and asked my host parents if two Americans could spend the night Friday night to celebrate my birthday with me. After leaving Anne and Sara messages, I felt so much better as I laid down in bed for my last night being 16.
Waking up to the first words of "Alles Güte zum Geburtstag," sounded a little different than the "Happy Birthday" I had thought to myself, but it wasn't at all less meaningful. Immediately walking into school, I was giving and getting hugs and just saying the words "Vielen Dank" over and over again. Germans don't give hugs, they give little kisses on the cheek, so it was a great change that I had missed. A friend ran up excitedly behind me and literally jumped with her hands around my neck: "Alles Güte zum Geburtstag!" English class was great as everybody sang to me, and then it was a class period where I didn't have to concentrate a lot, given that it is my natural language. ; ) Then during the first break, my friends made a circle in the hallway and presented me with two birthday cakes while singing Happy Birthday. I was just laughing and smiling. It was great! And then it was even better when someone was asking around for a lighter, and I blew out my birthday candles in the middle of the school on the stairs. It got even better when someone pulled out a bottle of children strawberry champagne to drink in congratulations.
Then it was just even funnier when we all realized that we were supposed to be in class and only had a 10 minute break. I had to carry the cakes in Art class, but the birthday magic continued as I actually knew what I wanted to draw for the first time ever. It was supposed to be a still life representing us: my photos, my ballet shoes, my computer, iPod headphones, text books, journal, and German Grammar in a Nutshell were all displayed as important parts of me. Back to the school grounds for our bigger break, I was nervous as I was designated to open the bottle and cut the cake, but it was so much fun as we were all standing outside drinking out of this bright pink bottle (no one thought to bring glasses) and we all ate cake from our hands.
Back to class. Which turned out not to be so bad, considering we watched a movie in both Religion and German. Somehow, fate recognized my birthday and just turned my day into way better than days should possibly be. Plus, Sport was cancelled so I was able to run home before Circus and Ballet and actually switch out bags instead of carrying everything with me the entire day, especially now that 'everything' included the leftover cake, strawberry juice, and presents. My German friends turned my birthday into a way better birthday than I could have expected.
Birthday wishes and happiness continued through circus and ballet as I had so much fun do the things I loved. My host parents had asked my a week before if I was going to go to class on my birthday, but I couldn't imagine a better way to spend part of my day. After a particularly interesting pointe class, I was walking from the bus stop and Anne was calling me, "Where are you? We're going to be a little late to your house... but not long!" Two seconds later, Sara jumped out from behind a car and scared me so much! I laughed and was so happy to have my Americans there! I talked to my mom for five minutes before jumping on a bus to go meet up with a group of five friends at a cocktail café. I was shocked to walk in and see there was an extremely full table, and then on top of that, people came and joined us as we sat and enjoyed each other's company. ; ) We were there for a couple hours until Sara was so tired, and I must admit that I was getting pretty tired too. We ran to McDonald's to get food for the way home and then sat at my house and talked until we fell asleep.
Saturday morning, we wake up and ate a huge brunch with my host family with Anne and Sara there. We sat around lazily and looked at old photos and reminisced like old ladies. : ) Eventually, it was time to walk Sara to the train station and say goodbye, but me and Anne didn't let that stop us on our fun. We went to the city for a bit, and I spent one of my birthday presents already (a gift card!) For lunch, we decided to keep it simple as we passed the last strawberries of the day from the first strawberries of the season, and we bought two quarts before joining what seemed like the rest of Aachen to lay down on the grass and enjoy the sun.
Then it was just even funnier when we all realized that we were supposed to be in class and only had a 10 minute break. I had to carry the cakes in Art class, but the birthday magic continued as I actually knew what I wanted to draw for the first time ever. It was supposed to be a still life representing us: my photos, my ballet shoes, my computer, iPod headphones, text books, journal, and German Grammar in a Nutshell were all displayed as important parts of me. Back to the school grounds for our bigger break, I was nervous as I was designated to open the bottle and cut the cake, but it was so much fun as we were all standing outside drinking out of this bright pink bottle (no one thought to bring glasses) and we all ate cake from our hands.
Back to class. Which turned out not to be so bad, considering we watched a movie in both Religion and German. Somehow, fate recognized my birthday and just turned my day into way better than days should possibly be. Plus, Sport was cancelled so I was able to run home before Circus and Ballet and actually switch out bags instead of carrying everything with me the entire day, especially now that 'everything' included the leftover cake, strawberry juice, and presents. My German friends turned my birthday into a way better birthday than I could have expected.
Birthday wishes and happiness continued through circus and ballet as I had so much fun do the things I loved. My host parents had asked my a week before if I was going to go to class on my birthday, but I couldn't imagine a better way to spend part of my day. After a particularly interesting pointe class, I was walking from the bus stop and Anne was calling me, "Where are you? We're going to be a little late to your house... but not long!" Two seconds later, Sara jumped out from behind a car and scared me so much! I laughed and was so happy to have my Americans there! I talked to my mom for five minutes before jumping on a bus to go meet up with a group of five friends at a cocktail café. I was shocked to walk in and see there was an extremely full table, and then on top of that, people came and joined us as we sat and enjoyed each other's company. ; ) We were there for a couple hours until Sara was so tired, and I must admit that I was getting pretty tired too. We ran to McDonald's to get food for the way home and then sat at my house and talked until we fell asleep.
Saturday morning, we wake up and ate a huge brunch with my host family with Anne and Sara there. We sat around lazily and looked at old photos and reminisced like old ladies. : ) Eventually, it was time to walk Sara to the train station and say goodbye, but me and Anne didn't let that stop us on our fun. We went to the city for a bit, and I spent one of my birthday presents already (a gift card!) For lunch, we decided to keep it simple as we passed the last strawberries of the day from the first strawberries of the season, and we bought two quarts before joining what seemed like the rest of Aachen to lay down on the grass and enjoy the sun.
As we walked around, Anne and I talked about everything just like we normally do, but at one point she mentioned how her and Josa (her host mom) talk about me. I was very intrigued and persisted until Anne told me about Josa's impersonation of me: "I am Lissa. I am from Texas. I do what I want." If you've ever met Josa, you would just have to laugh at the thought. But Josa was right, since I had gotten to Germany, I had jumped through a lot of loop holes and assured everyone that if I wanted to do something, I would do it and nobody or nothing was going to stop me.
After Anne left, I went home for a little bit to shower and get ready before leaving again. Saturday night was a night watching Sex and the City at a friend's house, while eating more strawberries and chocolate. Then Sunday was a day where my host parents literally spent from noon until 5, sitting on our back porch, soaking it in. I took their example and went for an over hour long walk and enjoyed the sunlight too. I laid down on the slightly wet grass without a hesitation and bopped my head along to the music on my iPod and just closed my eyes for the warmth to color my cheeks again. Summer is finally returning.
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