Birthdays away from home can be hard. I have to admit, I was
really missing my friends and family on my birthday. We get so used to our own
traditions that it’s hard to celebrate in a new way with people you hardly
know. Thanks to my team, others racers, and our contact, I had as good a
birthday as you can have in Moldova!
What does a Moldovan Birthday look like:
1. 1. The pre party begins at Debrief! I don’t know
about you, but I celebrate the whole month J
2. 2. Pre party continues with a visit from Nollis…
Yay for a lion bar, snickers bar, and peanut M&M’s
3. 3. Waking up to a birthday sign, balloons, candy,
and a card beside my bed! In America this might be normal, but when you are
living with a Moldovan girl that doesn’t speak English, you are weird.
4. 4. Having cookies for breakfast- this was not the
ideal nutritious breakfast, but hey it’s my BIRTHDAY!
5. 5. Going for a walk around the village, and
watching Roberto chase goats in a circle. It’s not every day you get to do this
back in America.
6. 6. Your team secretly carting around 2 birthday
cakes and candles for 4 days, because they had no idea if we had access to a
market in the village. Now the candles were not the normal birthday candles,
but candles in the shape of an egg! (You gotta make do with what you have)
7. 7. The whole youth group singing happy birthday to
me in Romanian, then attempting it in English, and finally praying over you! I
didn’t really know what was going on at this moment, but im sure everything
they said was nice… I hope so!
8. 8. Next … not one… not 2… BUT THREE birthday cakes
coming out from the back room! Yes, you added correctly, I had 5 cakes on my
birthday- so much for that eat healthy plan! (P90X AND pushups tomorrow)
9. 9. Team Considered Lost calling and singing happy
birthday to me over speaker phone (I sure you guys)! Then they sang a song they
wrote for me… ok that didn’t happen… but maybe next time!
10. 10. And last but not least, having the whole room of
Romanians laughing by the end of the night! There is no way you can steal my
joy on my birthday!!!
Thanks to everyone back at home for the birthday
wishes, facebook posts, and a special video! Also, thanks for the prayers and support!
