Turning 26 Chinese style

Well, I am another year older.  And I got to spend my birthday with “family” in China this past month!!  And I have the most amazing friends here on the race who put together an amazing day for me that I want to share with you.  My day started with my team waking me up with a knock on the door.  When I opened it, a sarong was held up to the door that I had to jump through (a Bischoff family tradition) where they had a traditional bautza (warm bread filled with meat) and a candle inside.  They sang me happy birthday and that was the start of my wonderful day!

We attended class in the morning and after that my team took me out to the only Western food restaurant in the city:  KFC.  Good ol’ KFC.  Ha!

Coincidentally, we sat in the “Birthday section” of the restaurant.  Yay!  After that, I had a special birthday surprise from Jon…he took me up to the top of the mountain in our city by cable car and it was incredible!  It took 45 minutes to ride up to the top where the view was just breathtaking.  Katie and Jimmy were also there and what a way to spend my afternoon than up in the crisp, cool mountains with some of my best buds on the team. 

Then, Katie gave me the best present a girl could ever wish for…a platter of chocolate.  yipeee!  And so worth a picture:

We then prepared for a dinner together with all my buddies from the team at a beautiful restaurant:

Over yet?  No way!  I was then instructed to dress in my best “Office” attire for an Office party.  The show, “The Office” is pretty much the funniest tv show known to man. We watch it all the time here and I love it so it was fitting that my birthday theme would include that!  Everyone dressed in their best attire (or what we could muster up with all our dingy clothes..haha!) and I entered the “Conference Room” aka..a hostel room.  This is where I was presented with a video that Eric put together including many of my teammates telling me things they loved about me, and pretty much being really funny too.  It resembled the interview style of The Office and even had re-enacted scenes from episodes I love.  It was hilarious!!  If you want to see it, just ask and I’ll show you when I get home. 

After THAT, I went into the “Office” where there were desks set up and a birthday cake waiting for me.  They all sang happy birthday to me and I was wowed.  I could never asked for a better birthday with people I love so very much. 

And what day would be complete without a viewing of an episode of the Office just to top it off!  Thanks to all my sweet teammates for making my birthday so far away from home make me feel like I was at home..with you!