I've been robbed...

of wishes! In Argentina when you blow out the candles on your birthday you make 3 wishes instead of one! Other than finding out that my life is short 32 birthday wishes, I had a wonderful birthday here in Argentina! So read on and ignore my excessive use of parentheses.

My day started like any other day... woke up at 6:10, hit the snooze button and slept until 6:20 (which I keep telling myself makes a difference, but let's be honest, 10 minutes of half sleep really doesn't help anyone) and took a shower. I slipped on my school uniform (Monday means jogging pants and red t-shirt) and walked into the kitchen. The lights were on so I knew someone else was up. I grabbed some cereal (maple-honey cheerio type things) and milk, but when I turned around I realized that there was a tray of food and a birthday card sitting on the counter. I grabbed my camera and took pictures (you have to document everything when you're on exchange), and my host mom came down and was disappointed that I discovered it before she could give me breakfast in bed. Oops.

The wonderful birthday card my host mom and Thiago made me!

The breakfast!

My host mom brought the rest of the family into the kitchen and they hugged and kissed me and gave me a present- clothes for clubbing (and for birthday parties)! I ate and got ready for school. I grabbed the birthday cake my host mom so kindly made for me, and my host dad dropped me off at school. The school day went on normally, but all of my teachers and classmates gave me hugs and kisses. We had the cake during my economics class. Throughout the school day they sang 7 times (in Castellano and English). We ended up not having gym class so I texted my host-mom to tell her and she said that she could still pick me up. Right before school got out she texted me that something came up and she couldn't, so I walked home. 

Because I usually eat lunch at school or the plaza on Mondays and Fridays (respectively), I had already eaten a ham and cheese sandwich so I skipped lunch and slept a siesta. I slept for 2 hours and at 4 Cami woke me up and told me that we were going to el shopping (mall) at 5. My host mom told me to wear something nice because we would be going to a restaurant afterwards. So I got dressed (wearing a new cardigan and blouse I had received earlier), we picked up one of Cami's friends and were dropped off at the mall. Cami told me she needed a dress for her graduation ceremony, so we went from store to store and had her try on dresses. At 8:30 we were picked up by my host father and from here on I should have figured it out. 

We dropped off Cami at the corner of our street (for a reason I didn't know why at the time) but Cami's friend and I stayed in the car while Amadeo picked some things up at the store. When he was done we drove home. Cami greeted us and opened the gate and Amadeo told us that he forgot his keys so we had to go around to the back. There was a strange vehicle in the carport and none of the lights were on and I was so confused. So we go around back and I see tons of peoples' silhouettes and SURPRISE! 

Looking back there were way too many clues that I should have put together but being an exchange student I'm just used to strange things happening and me not understanding why. Until I got home and saw the surprise party I honestly thought it was just going to be a low-key birthday, with a dinner out with my host family. I would've been happy with anything, but it really was a perfect night. 

My host mom had called one of my friends from school to ask her to invite the rest of the class. About half showed up which is really nice considering that it was a Monday night. TNG (Cami's friends.. and mine too) came, as well as my Rotary counselor and my friend Leonie. It was such a surprise and I had no idea what to say. We had empanadas and patties and torta and it was just so great. 

It was a little cold.. but it felt more like my actual birthday with the weather, than with the 75+ weather that we've been having here in Bs. As. 

Almost always do birthday cakes have sparklers here!

There are no words (in Spanish or English) or pictures that can capture the essence of just how perfect this moment was. Right after this picture was taken the lights were turned off and it was completely dark other than the sparkler and candle on the cake. I was surrounded by people that I've grown to love singing choruses of "Que los cumplas feliz" and this sparkler just kept burning and all I could do was sit there laughing and smiling. As the sparkler dwindled to a small flame, I blew out the candles and realized that I didn't need to make a wish, and that my life wasn't robbed of anything. 

I want to thank everyone who made my birthday so special.

It was one of my favorite nights here.
I love you all so much.

Micah 

(but before I go... more pictures!) 

With some of my classmates!

Thiago and Eze!

My counselor and host parents!

Some of Cami's friends!

My host sister and some of her friends!

Leonie, Cami and I!