First, I just want to say that today's post is a little different than the ones you know and love. Of course, this won't become an ongoing thing, but I just wanted to share something special that happened to me recently.
Enough foresight, I'll get right into it. Wednesday December 18 was my 21st birthday. A day my little American butt has been waiting for for what seemed like a million years! However, being in Germany I knew it wasn't going to be as big of deal because I've been able to legally drink here for the last 2 years. No big deal, right!? Still, turning 21 is a major milestone for an American and I still wanted it to be a blast.
So as the day was nearing, Meri kept asking me what I wanted to do. For some reason in the weeks nearing the special day I wasn't necessarily keen on really doing anything big. I don't know why, but it seemed like it wasn't that big of deal to me anymore. I told Meri, "Oh, I think maybe I will just ask a few people to go to Frankfurt for dinner or something like that." Meri wasn't having that at all. She would say things like, "Oh no you have to have a party. We can go to Frankfurt and drink and have fun!" With all of the things going on I really just didn't feel in the mood for a party. I posted in our ERASMAS group message on Facebook that I would be going to Frankfurt for a dinner on my birthday and if anyone wanted to join they were more than welcome to.
A couple days later I still had no response to it and I then realized, "What the hell am I thinking, I'm turning 21. This is special!" I wondered why no one had answered me back and even the people I had asked face to face had all said they had plans or had come up with some kind of excuse to why they couldn't make it. Really, I was beginning to be bothered, did I do something to piss people off and now they wont even come celebrate my Birthday with me? I told myself it was no big deal and that I shouldn't be upset, because in fact we were all nearing the Christmas vacation and everyone had a lot going on. People were studying for midterms and getting ready to go back to their families for Christmas, I was the one being selfish asking for people to do this for me. So I didn't ask anyone else. I figured I would go to Frankfurt with Meri and make the best of my day and have a good time.
Well the day finally arrived. I made Pie the night before, "because no one should be without cake on their birthday" is what I always say. Instead I chose pumpkin and apple pie and another special treat. Pekko arrived with flowers in the morning and we all ate pie and enjoyed the morning until it was time to get ready to go to Frankfurt. And we were off.
We met Stuart at the train station and I was delightfully surprised by Zach and his girlfriend, Stephanie. They also joined us. It was a good thing Meri had made the reservation to the restaurant for 5 because now we were 5. When we got off the train in Frankfurt was another surprise. Natalia was waiting. She said she was waiting for Bulat (our shitty Russian Friend). So I simply asked her if they wanted to join us for dinner. This is where it gets interesting.
Ok, so for the people who really know me. Honestly I am pretty oblivious to everything. I had no idea what was going on and I really just thought that everything was a coincidence up to this point. I said to Meri, "We should call the restaurant and tell them we need a few more spots at our table." All of the sudden Meri starts going off, "Ok ok fine! I got 15 of your friends and we have been planning a surprise for you the whole time. That is why everyone has not been talking to you all week. Everyone was going to surprise you at the restaurant! Uggg!" Needless to say she was pretty flustered and cursing, in the middle of the train station, because she almost pulled it off completely. The whole thing was rather amusing.
But for me it didn't matter. It was the sweetest thing ever. I actually started to tear up while she was having her little tantrum(Meri's English word of the day). Really, the day before I had been so sad that everyone was blowing me off on my Birthday I actually started to cry at home the night before. What wonderful friends for doing something so sweet for me.
We all ate an awesome meal and had some great drinks and then went back home. I wasn't able to have a typical get drunk, drink 21 shots, and pass out 21st birthday because I had an early morning class, but it still was just what I wanted. I enjoyed it so much. I looked at all of the people there and thought. These are the people who I want to be my friends. These are the people that truly care, and it really warms my heart that they would do something so special and sweet. I was a happy girl in the end of the night.
BUT WAIT....THERE'S MORE!!!!!!
The next day I didn't plan to do anything. I had already had the greatest surprise party thrown for me so I was ready to relax. I had night class that night and it was the last class before the Christmas break so everyone was having a party in the German Christmas Markets to celebrate and experience a little German style Christmas. I did that and I was with everyone in my class. When I was ready to go I texted Meri and asked her to come to the Christmas market and meet me and we would go home together. (She was already in the city center to do some other various errands.)
While walking to the bus she suddenly said to me, "Alex. I really have to poop." I didn't think anything of it. Just normal Meri. Really, she does this kind of thing all the time. I told her to go into the Mcdonald's and just use their restroom. No big deal right? No! By Meri's standards that is not ok. She kept going on about how she couldn't use public toilets to go number 2. I don't neccessarily understand, but whatever. To each his own, right? So we got to the bus and she asks, "Marjorie lives around her doesn't she? I'm just going to call Marjorie and ask if I can use her toilet." By this point I was just like, "Ok, whatever call her and see what she if she's home."
Turns out Marjorie was home. Meri started to head there but I was going to sit at the bus stop and wait. She wasn't having that and told me I had to go with her. I wasn't thinking anything of it and just going with it. When Meri has to poop she has to poop. Such a strange Finnish girl. Anyway, we get to Marjorie's place and Meri bolts up the stairs to the restroom. I start talking to Marjorie and apologizing for Meri's strange actions and then we continue to talk about random things and she keeps trying to get me to go inside the apartment. Still, at this point I'm not thinking anything of anything and everything is completely normal to me. "Do you want some tea," ask's Marjorie. Well of course I wasn't going to turn down her offer! How rude would that be!?
When she opens the door...BAM! Everyone is there with Balloons and yelling, "Surprise!" Not only had Meri planned one surprise party, she had planned TWO! I couldn't believe it! I really was so surprised and had no clue whatsoever that this was happening.
Anyway, that night turned out to be one of the best nights I have had in my life. All my friends came together and threw me not one but two surprise parties for my 21st birthday. I want to cry just thinking about how lucky I am to have met such wonderful caring people in this experience. Now I know that these are the people who are going to leave a mark on me. These are the people whom I will remember for the rest of my life. Not only because they did such a wonderful thing for me, but because they are such wonderful people themselves.
I learned one big life lesson as I was looking at the people surrounding me that night. Surround yourself with people who care about you and who make you feel good and people who want the best for you in your life. All those other people in the world don't matter. I really am a lucky girl to have all these great people in my life and I couldn't ask for a better or different exchange year.
Thanks to all the people I have met this past year! You have made it great and memorable!
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| With Love Alex |
