In the morning I was awakened by LOUD birthday music at about 7 am. Evidently this is a part of the traditional birthday celebration—shortening the life of the one celebrating their birthday by shocking them awake. I managed to escape the fireworks, though, since my room is at the rear of the house, and I sleep pretty soundly.
After feeding the students, Mari and I went to breakfast. Again, it seems to be tradition that a woman goes out to breakfast with her friends on her birthday. We met another friend of Mari’s at the restaurant who was also celebrating her birthday. It was nice just to have time to visit with Mari, and as we talked, I realized that just chatting with her in Spanish was no longer “work” for me, but came very naturally. Another indication to me that I’m settling in.
I did go to Hermano Pedro for part of the day, and loved the hugs and greetings of “Feliz cumpleanos” from the kids and even the staff. I could think of no other place I’d rather spend my birthday than with “my” kids. They are becoming as much a part of my “family” as the family at the house. This past week even a number of the non-verbal kids have started to “reach out” to me in ways that are uniquely theirs.
I knew we were having a special dinner, but didn’t realize how many people were invited. Leo, Jr. and his family came in from the city, and even Pablo came when he finished his shift at the hospital. Dick came to dinner, as well as my “shopping buddy” Estelle and her daughter. All the students in the house joined us for the celebration, too. Benjamin, one of my housemates, couldn’t pass up a chance to set off “bombas” (fireworks) before we ate.
Mari made an amazing dinner of chicken, rice and baked sweet potatoes. We ended with birthday cake. Mercifully, I managed to escape another tradition—having one’s face shoved into their birthday cake! All I had to do was blow out the candle.
This is one birthday that I know I’ll never forget—my first with my new friends and new family here in Guatemala.
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