Celebrating my Birthday in Beijing

About a month ago I celebrated my birthday in Beijing. I was blown away by the generosity of those in my life, both near and far, and overwhelmed with feelings of gratitude. The weekend before my birthday Jacky and I trekked out to Sanlitun, the "hippest" neighborhood in the city. This is where we go whenever we need a break from the traditional Chinese "vibe" of our neighborhood. It's where we go when we crave English, cheese, and Mexican food. Carine, a friend we met out in this neighborhood a few weekends prior, invited us to stay at the hostel she works at. Seeing as Sanlitun is over an hour subway trip from our neighborhood, we quickly took her up on her offer and decided to make a mini-vacation out of it! We met up with our friends at our favorite (and the only) Mexican restaurant in the city. Then we went back to the hostel for surprise cake and champagne (both hard to come by in Beijing...Jacky is the best)! After we enjoyed a night dancing at a roof top bar. The next morning we treated ourselves to our first bagel in five months and a trip to a Western supermarket!
It was a wonderful weekend, it was very special to share it with so many of our new friends who have welcomed us into their lives in Beijing.

Posing with Carine and the dog she gave me as 

a present (because the "big blue eyes" reminded her of "my big blue eyes").

The whole group at dinner.

First bagel in 5 months!

But little did I know when we got home from our mini-vacation in Sanlitun the celebrations were far from over. For the past month or so Jacky had been organizing and creating a beautiful video made up of videos from our first 5 months in China as well as birthday messages from those I love back at home and here in China. It was the most special gift I've ever received and it made for one of the most special birthdays I will ever have. Thank you to everyone who helped her put it together, I love you all. If you'd like to see just how happy you all made me check out the reaction video that Jacky (secretly) recorded while I watched: http://vimeo.com/79179399.

The next day at school my students sang me happy birthday in both English and Chinese throughout the whole day and also presented me with birthday cards and pictures. I was also lucky enough to hear from many of my family and friends who I miss so much. It was a birthday that I will never forget, thank you to everyone who made it so memorable and brought me such joy! The biggest xiexie (thank you) goes to my fa xiao (dear old friend), Jacky. She worked so hard and took great care to make it a special birthday and to bring the love of all of those at home to me in Beijing. I am the luckiest to call her my best fa xiao, my roommate, travel companion, and co-worker! 我愛你, 華梨花! 

My pal Yoyo wishing me a happy birthday!

With my students after they gave me their beautiful cards!