My First Birthday in the Big Old City

On Monday, September 28th 2015, I turned 24.

I thought I was going to spend my birthday the adult way. It means going to the mall after work, taking away some noodle (for wishing a long life) and other favorites (chocolate/potato/cheese/seaweed based foods) to fill in my happiness tank, watching a movie I downloaded while eating the noodle, then going to sleep. However, apparently..God had something else prepared in store.

Sunday night I was sleeping peacefully until I heard fierce knocks on my door. It was the kind of knock you can't ignore, it was the kind of knock that will not stop until you open the door. I thought that might be about what the elders back then told their kids, that answering midnight knocks brings you illness and bad luck (usually there is no one when you open the door). Or..these could be the boarding house fellows. There was only one way to find out. I opened the door. Only to see this:

 It was dark outside. What are these things? Floating souls? Why are they floating in front of my face? Then I realized that these people were giving me a surprise. I didn't see that coming at all so I wasn't ready to respond. I guess I made weird gestures and smiles to anything. I didn't even remember to cut the cake nor how to do it. So awkward. I didn't even hug any of them. 

Yeah, dude, what's with that arm pose?

 

Smile here, smile there, smile more and nod.

WHO ON EARTH CUT A CAKE LIKE I DID?! lol, no regret.

The morning came and I got ready for work, bringing the fancy cake along. At school, I got happy-birthdays and hugs here and there. Quite amazing how words spread. After Bible Story, still in the middle of class, a friend teacher came in holding a cake and other 4 other teachers suddenly sang Happy Birthday! The highlight though, was in the children's faces.
So shocked, no one sang along they stared blankly with mouths half open. Haha, they were more shocked than me.

Just how these people know I like chocolates?

At lunch I got some face treatment. By face treatment I meant whip cream all over my face and hair.
.
.
After work, my bestie from uni, Elizabeth, came and offered to go to a massage place together, but unfortunately I needed to go back to my place to wash my hair. Yep, 3 hours with dried cream all over your head was not easy to wash. So the plan changed to just going to the mall eating noodle after I washed up. While eating ramen (close enough to noodle), 2 unexpected friends appeared and joined us.

Two of us eating before Valianda and Rudi made their appearances.

More cake! This one is unique, all layers are different chocolates. Isn't that amazing!










To be honest, I don't remember what I wished for, unless for good health. I mean, I am 24, happy, healthy, employed (not yet the best job but I'm on my way), and surrounded by good friends. What else could I ask, despite all the struggles?

Meet all of us!

...and that was how they closed my day perfectly.


Ah yes. I don't check my social media a lot, so I saw this late, only after a friend captured it and sent it through Line. Virtually, this ladies are the winner.

Jenny currently works in Semarang, and Jessyca is now working in Bali. Seeing them holding notes from different cities..Is it just me or this is really cool!

It's Diane and Shiro the dog. Ona was my small name in uni.
The last but not least, is Tiwi. Both pictures are taken in Salatiga. :')











I still need to check what does Tiwi's paper say, though. Hehehe peace, Tiwi!