Last year, as I was finishing off a birthday pizza with vino rosso in Sicily, I never would have guessed that one year later, I’d be celebrating in Laos. My birthday weekend started on Friday, when I was surprised with gifts and flowers from coworkers on my desk when I got to school, as well as a birthday card from the States, which had somehow arrived perfectly on time. After work, I went out to a big family-style dinner with friends at a restaurant called Lao Garden, one of the more upscale Lao food places in town. On my birthday menu: steamed fish, chicken cashew, fried chicken wings, chicken laap, sticky rice, fried morning glory, mixed vegetables, green curry, and spring rolls.
My friend made me a chocolate and orange Princeton cake!
Saturday after work the serious party preparations began at home. My roommates and I were hosting the birthday celebration at our house, also as a sort of housewarming since we haven’t entertained a large group since moving in. Since I’ve been so nostalgic for both fall and college lately, I decided on “American College Tailgates” as the theme, and my roommates and I all wore our college colors. The Australians fully embraced being American for the day, and they donned letter jackets, knee-high socks, denim, and baseball caps, and practiced some select phrases in American accents. With a grill smoking out front (kebabs, sausages, and veggie burgers were for dinner), a cooler of Beerlao, and cheap plastic cups to drink from, it almost felt like I really was at a college party back home. I had two different delicious homemade birthday cakes from friends, the weather was perfect, and my favorite songs were playing from speakers on the porch: I couldn’t have asked for a better birthday.