twenty-one

Well, I'm 21...! Weirrrrd. What's stranger is turning 21 in a foreign country, where there is nothing significant whatsoever about this age. Birthdays are just one of those things in life that only seem real with the proper ingredients: people who know you at a level where they remember your day + singing 'the song' + whoever means most to you at this juncture in time. Stir together to make your own celebration.

The day before my bday, my friends from church and I hung out at the Olympic pool, then went back to our friend's house where everyone but me and Adam (his bday is the 9th) prepared a special dinner for us. It was really lovely but we ate around 10:00 pm, so I was huuuuuuungry. They made a cherry-chocolate cake as well and that was deeee-lish. I got some awesome soap for the bathtub--that is to say...for "a" bathtub, which I do not have.

What was strange about the whole birthday-in-Germany thing, too, was that most people I see would WANT to know that Tuesday was my bday. But it's so incredibly odd for me to walk around exclaiming from rooftops, "I'M OLDER!!!! AND YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT!!! AND YOU SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT!!!" Haha. For real. It's kind of this odd balance that you have to find. Because truly, we are all so busy with things that have to do with ourselves, that if we don't peep up about certain things, they just sort of get swept underneath the rug. Ohhh life--you're silly.

I was so excited to get tons of e-mails/calls/letters from my parents, family, friends, etc. I got some great mail! I felt loved <3 Uncle Ralph is in town, too, so it was fun to see him and Deborah and have my first glass of beer as a 21-year old with a man who quite simply loves beer and all food that is German.

These upcoming weeks are crazy. The next five consecutive weekends--potentially six--are occupied. My apologies in advance for delayed responses to communication! I'm trying to manage everything, yet simultaneously enjoy what remains in my experience abroad this year. Thanks for being understanding about this all...one thing I keep saying lately is that I wish I could combine all my worlds--with the food, the people, the conveniences--just a place where I get to pick all that. I do think that place exists, but I sure know I'm not the one who gets to make it happen.

Alles Liebe. Love you much.