Happy Birthday!

Friday was my birthday! Dani had arranged a dinner, and I thought it was partially to celebrate my birthday, so I went and brought some of my friends and my flatmates. It wasn't for me, actually, but it was still really nice. (Ok, it was a little bit awkward.... sorry for crashing the party in a very egocentric way....) I had the best pad thai ever, though. Unfortunately, the waitress took it away - I was under the impression she would box it up, and she wasn't. 

I knew my flatmates and friends were going to go out drinking in celebration of my birthday, so I wasn't surprised when they all came back to the flat (especially since 4 of them live there). I was surprised when Scott turned up (a guy from AustraLearn who I didn't talk to that much but is actually really cool). Then a large group of Laura's friends turned up, so I was like, oh, maybe it's not for my birthday. But they didn't leave. They just hung around. And no one seemed to want to go out.... more people kept coming in, and leaving, and coming back, and whispering, but who could pay attention to the whispering when everyone was talking and drinking... my friends, mutual friends, Cassie's friends, Laura's friends.... the whole apartment was full... and then Laura and Rachael and Liam walked in with a cake, and Liam's friend held up a lighter since there were no candles, and everyone sang "Happy Birthday." I blew out the lighter (and made a wish, but I won't tell you what for) and Alyse cut the cake into the smallest pieces ("I'm Irish, we lived through the potato famine, we can make anything last!") so everyone would have a piece. My wonderful flatmates had even made a sort of birthday card that they'd all signed.

That night we went out to the Globe Bar - a real club - stuffy, hot, lots of people drinking and dancing. My first real club/bar experience, and I was pretty scared of dodgy people. I didn't drink any while I was there, so it was cheap and not as scary.

I was with Paurakh, and i told him not to leave me. He took his job a bit too seriously i think, but it was good, because when I went out for some fresh air, it was nice to have someone text me and say, "Where did you go? Are you okay?" But it was all good and fun. We even had to wait in line to get in, and they let me in because i was a girl! Exactly like the movies! Cassie made some new friends but I mostly danced with Laura, then sat outside (where it wasn't ridiculously hot) and talked to Rachael, Scott, Paurakh and Liam.

I've never had a surprise party before, unless you count this year when mom and dad got me a cake for a little birthday before I went away. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside (like the little cake did, but on a bigger scale). 

We all trooped back at various times (generally around 4 am) and after making sure Cassie was sitting up straight, and that her friends would take care of her, I went to bed- 22, happy, and grateful for my wonderful, wonderful friends.