21st Birthday

It`s Saturday and all is well. I survived the week of my 21st birthday.

Geez. I thought having my 21st birthday abroad in a country where the legal drinking age is 18 would inevitably mean a lame birthday. But no. This year it was a big deal. I celebrated for an entire week - like my mama said it would be, this was the most memorable birthday yet.

It all started last week when I convinced my friends to go to club Mint. We had free tickerts so we slipped right in and got to the action. I think we arrived at the club at 3:00 in the morning and left early in Argentina terms at around 5:00 or after. Throughout the week I stayed home only one night. One night I went to a bar with my friends Tara and Jana. I got invited to join a volleyball team at the Law School in the city!! I`m pretty excited about this and I will definitely update about this experience next week.

..however, I must admit I am a little nervous because I will be playing on Jana`s team. Jana played volleyball at Yale when they were National Champions. Yikes.

Wednesday night we all went to sushi at a top notch restaurant in Retiro called Azul Profundo. It was the last night in Buenos for several of my friends, so we decided to go all out. This night was also the last night of my childhood (hahah), so I brought my birthday in with some champagne and white wine, along with my salmon sushi. The restaurant gave me THE best cheesecake for my celebration. After dinner we all headed to Las Cañitas to our favorite little bar, Jackie O`s. A table of nearly 15 Argentine`s found out it was my birthday and sang Happy Birthday to me (of course, in Spanish).

We stayed at this place until 3:30 in the morning when I decided I should get a little rest before class in a couple of hours...

THURSDAY: MY BIRTHDAY. haha. I went to all of my classes and when I returned to my house at 5:30 in the afternoon, I was surprised by my entire Argentina family! They opened the door for me and they were all dressed to a key, ready to eat snacks and drink tea. The little kids made me the hugest birthday card I have ever seen and Nancy cooked me a delicious chocolate cake, loaded with dulce de leche. They lit my cake on fire (seriously it had a firecracker on it!) and I made my three wishes, with all of my Argentine family around me.

After the party I went to Clare`s (my best friend here) going away party. Our friend Peter had a big get together planned in his apartment in Palermo and invited all of his Argentine friends.

I invited a Dutch friend of mine who was also celebrating his birthday, and we popped open another bottle of champagne.

AND THEN: Last night I was invited to a mexican dinner at an apartment in Palermo with my friend Tara. I had no idea what I was getting into, but this was one of the most memorable experiences yet. We showed up at the apartment where a security guard brought us through the art room (!) at the bottom of the hotel and guided us to the elevator. We arrived at the apartment, which was the entire top floor of the complex. I have never seen anything so nice. It had a spiral staircase. Wooden floors. Huge white leather chairs around a sturdy white table. HUGE living area with white leather sofas. And a GORGEOUS view over the entire neighborhood of Palermo.

There were close to 15 Argentine`s in the apartment, getting together for their weekly dinner. They prepared guacomole and burritos for everyone and we all sat around drinking wine. I felt like I was in a different world (haha...well, maybe I was...)

On the rare occasions that I get invited to hang with only Argentine`s, I always enjoy myself thoroughly. They are very warm people. When one person arrives, everyone greets the person with kisses. Everyone stands up and gives them attention. It`s a very affectionate and open environment. I love it. I thought it would be difficult to communicate for hours in Spanish, but it was actually not overwhelming in the least. I listened in Spanish and spoke English. They listened to my English and spoke back in Spanish.

They ALL spoke very clear English. We talked about the United States and they told me crazy stories about a trip to Panama City at Spring Break and going to a prom in West Virginia. hahhahah. I couldn`t believe that of all places and things to do in the US, they got to experience Panama City and West Virginia. Geeezzz.  

OK. Enough. So the week is over. I`m 21. I`m finally an adult. :)