A Birthday Party.

On December 31, 2010, I celebrated my 23^rd birthday. Twenty-three still sounds too old to me. Not that the age itself is old in the grand scheme of things...but that I am twenty-three. I feel like I’ve finally made it to the age where I am a 20-something. Not 20, 21, 22...but a 20-something...like this is the point where you kind of stop counting...it’s all the same until 30, then 40. The years are moving quickly but I don’t think I’ve been paying enough attention to check them off as they go by. I think I measure in broad time chunks rather than years...and my chunks haven’t quite made it to 23 yet. Maybe I’ll just feel young forever...I don’t think I would really mind that...

I hadn’t really planned on making a big deal about my birthday. I thought maybe I’d mention it the day before or the day of...maybe have a coca to celebrate...but it had come up a few months ago and my host family remembered. That’s the thing about having a birthday in the midst of the holidays...people remember, they’re free, and in the celebrating mood...so celebrating just kind of happens. The first mention of my birthday came from my host mom. About a week before she asked me, “so what are you going to cook for your birthday?” To which I responded... “je ne sais pas!” A few days later she informed me, “you are going to make Chebudjen” To which I responded, “what’s that?” And she told me, “you will see.” A few days later she asked me, “You are going to invite people aren’t you?” To which I responded, “I should invite people?” Then she told me who to invite.

The guest list: Pastor Sem (my boss) and his wife Eunice, Dr. Regis (a family relative and my student) and his wife, Benedicte (my older married host sister) and family, Rose’s host parents, two friends from the choir, and of course...the guy that my host family seems to want me to marry...a young Uncle of the family...Uncle Ben... as I call him.

The 31^st arrived, Rose came over early in the morning, and we kicked off the day with some birthday pancakes. It’s always fun to cook American food for my host family for two reasons...it’s something new, from my culture, for them to try...and it helps to show that I am not completely incompetent in the kitchen...I just don’t know how to make Chadian food! So we made some pancakes. Half plain, half with the dried blueberries Rose had received in a package. They were delicious...other than the fact that they tasted a lot like Nido (the powdered milk we used in the batter.)

After breakfast we started cooking. My host sister busted out the BIG kettle and got to work preparing three chickens, a massive assortment of vegetables and potatoes, and enough rice to feed an army. I helped as much I could. Cooking for me means a lot of sitting around...I cut up vegetables and helped with small things but I am very incompetent at cooking Chadian style. That’s the thing...Chadian girls grow up in the kitchen...everything there is very second nature, and everyone cooks the same foods the same way. So, it’s hard to realize that, for me, everything is completely different....from the types of food right down to the method of preparation. I would love to help, but I need to be shown how. In time. So we cooked the repas.

The party was supposed to begin at 14:00. So naturally everyone showed up at 15:00. I welcomed everyone, passed around some cocas, fantas, and tops, and to my surprise...opened presents! Now, I don’t think birthday celebrations and birthday presents are really a cultural thing...but TV changes everything...and western images of presents, cakes, and candles have made it here to the heart of Africa. I received four new dresses (and ironically the dress from Uncle Ben came wrapped in “congratulations on your marriage” wrapping paper), some jewelry, and some beautiful decorative wooden spoons.

The day was very special. That’s really all I can say. It’s a hard thing to describe...but being so far away from friends, family, and “normal” life makes small things even more meaningful. Each text message, card, e-mail or wall post is a treasure...so a whole birthday party, from people I’ve known for less than five months, is almost overwhelming. I was and am still very grateful to find myself here among people who make me feel loved each day.

Thank you to everyone who wished me a happy birthday from the states via card, facebook, text, e-mail...you are all very special to me and I love you so much!

*Just a note*

I do have one Christmas/birthday wish. I would love a visitor from the states. You know who you are, Dad! But the plane ticket is expensive. So we can all pray that he finds the means, or comes to his senses and decides it’s worth it to visit his only daughter the whole way over here in Tchad!