Birthday Abroad

People here have asked me if it's strange to celebrate my birthday away from home, but for me, it's almost normal. Many of my birthdays growing up were celebrated at the beach, and since sixteen, I've celebrated birthdays in Hong Kong, Colorado, upstate New York, and now...England.

All in all, it was a very fun day, especially because Heidi and I have the same birthday so we got to share in the fun together. I got up early and boarded a coach bus with Kellie, Kimberly, and Heidi for Stratford-upon-Avon. There, we visited Holy Trinity Church, the sight of Shakespeare's grave, and the house in which Shakespeare was born. Then we went to the Royal Shakespare Theatre to see a performance of Romeo and Juliet, which was an intruiging mix of Shakespeare meets Stomp meets West Side Story with some nice stage and lighting design thrown in.

We got back around 7 and went for a late dinner at 8:30 with a few other friends. Heidi and I were determined to have pizza - not stuffed meat and potatoes like we usually have in the dining hall :) - and we found this fun American-style place that even gave us birthday balloons. The girls had all gone together and gotten Heidi and I gift certificates for pedicures, which was super kind. Afterwards, we stopped at a pub for drinks and then came back and hung out in Kellie's room, talking until 2 a.m. It reminds me of undergrad in the way that I have gotten to know so much about these people in just 2 weeks!

This morning, I went to church again at Holy Trinity, and now I'm off to the University Center to work on my sonnets paper. It's due Thursday, so we're all feeling the pressure to buckle down and get things done.

Thank you all so much for your kind e-mails and e-cards. It meant a lot to be remembered on my birthday!

Shakespeare's Grave

Heidi and I with our birthday balloons

Will's House in Stratford