21st Birthday

As some of you know I turned 21 on May 11th, while still in Tanzania. Unfortunately the over-the-top birthday party I had been planning since I was 16 was dampened by finals week and trying to pack all of my things. And in reality, the ridiculous things I had planned just weren't feasible in Dar.  Nevertheless I had a wonderful birthday with all of my friends at an Ethiopian restaurant called Addis in Dar. We are all tired from studying for finals so there wasn't a night of wild festivities on the scale that most legal Americans celebrate their birthdays, but I was more than OK with that as I had just developed a cold. Dinner was really good (I recommend Ethiopian food to anyone that hasn't tried it) and everyone surprised me with a cake! Cakes are rather rare in Tanzania, and good cakes are even harder to find so this was a real treat! It was heart shaped with a "21" on it and the restaurant brought it out with flowers and burning incense sticks that I think were meant to serve as candles. As part of a running joke with the CIEE group I was given a "Congratulations on your Confirmation" card signed by everyone. It was a wonderful birthday and I am looking forward to celebrating it with my boyfriend Kevin in London. A bit of a change in scenery but we are going to the ballet (and dinner if I have my way with it) at the Royal Opera House. How cultural haha. Anyway...here are some pictures from the dinner at Addis in Dar