Celebrating a birthday abroad is just different.
There is no Costco cake in Europe.
This probably doesn’t count as tragedy, I know. It’s just that I absolutely love spending my birthday with my family and friends in the United States. I must admit, though, it was festive in Spain. This is probably the only birthday I will spend here, so I wanted to enjoy a fully Spanish style birthday, which is a fiesta – a long one.
The weekend started on Thursday when we went to a restaurant in Jerez named Santa Maria. We shared some raciones and had some Hello Kitty cake. This was a gorgeous chocolate cake my mom sent me from a bakery in Spain. Who knew that a mailable cake would be so delicious. My cake is even displayed on the bakery website.
asparagus revuelto
On Friday we had another dinner with a few more friends, shared raciones and wine, went out for copas (mixed drinks) and then to the discoteca. The long walk home at 6 a.m. was a challenge, but I tried to celebrate properly. When I told my neighbor I got in at 6 a.m. he said that was early. This is something that the harder I try to adapt to, the less I feel like a Spaniard. The nights in the States will feel like seconds after spending my weekends here.
Stork in Fregenal de la Sierra
On Saturday, I went to Fregenal with a friend. It’s a cheap and fast bus ride. The town is about half the size of Jerez but has twice the amount of young people. We saw the castle, ate some bocadillos and later went out. (I have to mention an impromptu ride out to another matanza. Snapped a quick photo of the women filling the sausages).
Impromptu matanza
Later we went out and had copas for 2.5 euros. The bar reminded me of Shakespeare’s in Columbia, Missouri (Named best College Hangout by the Today Show).
After my birthday, while I was tired from the festivities, I felt great. I turned a year older in another country (the second time I had spent a birthday in another country during time living abroad). A year ago I knew that I would have the possibility of living in Spain. However, I never anticipated that I would actually execute that idea. It seemed hard. Impossible. However, I made the decision and did it. I have four more months here. During that time I will produce more content for my blog, travel as much as my budget will allow and seek out opportunities to practice Spanish.
What did I wish for?
You will find out in a year ….