Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Jordan Does Birthdays Best

It was my 22nd birthday week and I was prepared for a small celebration consisting of a delicious dinner on my birthday. But my Jordanian family exceeded expectations as they do at all things consisting of hospitality and friendship.

It all kicked off Saturday evening, when I was cleaning my room and found the first gift hidden in my room. A set of lovely handmade ceramic Arabic coffee cups with a pink floral design and Arabic writing that I've had my eyes on since I passed by the shop and saw them only halfway complete.

This was followed by a bringing in my birthday at midnight with a surprise party... at my house! Like how did they even manage that?! The cake was carrot cake, which is my favorite and I did not tell anyone that. I was sung five different versions of happy birthday, only one of which I understood. I also received a 100% glass shisha/hookah/argeeleh that I have been eyeing for about a year. 

The next day I was kidnapped to go and pick out new plants and flowers for my roof (some of them had died from the sandstorm and heatwave). I was then surprised with a cactus delivery from my parents, which didn't have a name or note so I was left wondering for a while and quite hysterically who sent me a cactus for my birthday... an enemy? A secret admirer? Or did my parents actually send me a cactus, and yes they did I found out... That is after I called and asked: "Y'all didn't send me a cactus did you, because someone did and there is no name or number or anything?!" Don't get me wrong though, I totally love it!

I had my delicious dinner which consisted of Indian food. A few days later I also had a meal of birthday mansaaf. 


Because what birthday is complete without mansaaf?


Oh and sometime during my birthday week, my friends planned a movie night and turned my roof into The Broadway Theater. We watched The Grand Budapest Hotel with a projected screen, popcorn, and candy. And don't let me forget to mention that there was a meteor shower that same night so we saw shooting stars while watching the movie. 

So as far as I am concerned, this birthday is one for the books and Jordan absolutely did it best.