the birthday

Well, I recently passed my 25th birthday...my third here in Panama. My first was during training, and included a serenade from some other trainees. Last year's was pretty uneventful. I can say this year it was great. The night before, a woman in my town stopped by my house at night to inform me that she had made me a birthday cake as promised (I don't remember her ever making that promise) and it was in her house if I wanted to come eat it with her or to take it and eat it somewhere else. I thanked her and let her know I'd be there to eat it the next day. I could tell things were off to a good start. On birthday day, I worked as usual in the school, where the kids sang me happy birthday and I got a hug from the teacher. I then went to David. The bus driver even remembered that it was my birthday. In David, I met with 2 other volunteers for some nachos and ice cream. Then, I picked up the trainee that was here to visit and shadow me for the weekend to get a taste of volunteer life. We got back to site, and I whisked her along to go visit my second family, where they had a great dinner of arroz con pollo and potato salad (birthday food) waiting for me. It was almost as if I was celebrating with my actual family, and hey, that rice and chicken dinner was just as good as going to Ruth's Chris. We then left there to continue our visits and go and enjoy some birthday cake. I did assure the trainee that not every day was this good.
It was all simple, nothing extravagant or over the top. But I felt very loved, and I guess that's all someone could want on their birthday. And as I reflected on being in the town for two years and having the experience I did, it really warmed my heart. Almost made me forget how old I'm getting.