06 Oct 4. The Loneliest Birthday I Never Did Have

When you pack up and move continents for the year it’s fun, it’s exciting and it’s refreshing. When you arrive in your new city and realise that it is only a few weeks until your birthday and you don’t really know anybody it’s, well, disappointing.

As a self-confessed attention whore I love my birthday. It’s the one month out of the year that is all about me. Yes, month. The real aim when it comes to birthdays is to try and drag them out for as long as possible. The longer I can keep the attention focused solely on me, the better.

When my birthday came around this year I had been here in San Francisco for little over 3 weeks, I had known my housemates for little over 2 weeks, I was not feeling my usual level of excitement. Nobody would make a fuss of me, there wouldn’t be cake – unless I bought it for myself and that’s just sad – and it would just feel like a normal day when in actual fact it would be MY special day. Is everyone getting the picture of how needy and self-obsessed I am? Yes? Good.

I could not have been more wrong about this birthday.

On the Monday, a parcel arrived from the UK which at least reassured me that I would have something to open when the day came around. I awoke on the Wednesday – that’s the day my birthday fell on – to a “Happy Birthday” banner in my living room before I even left for class. The lunch shared with friends was probably one of the only meals I’ve had in a restaurant since arriving in The States and it does feel a bit flush eating lunch out mid-week. The presents and cards from home were extra special because of the distance between me and my loved ones. The insanely decorated apartment that I came home to after my lessons was just incredible – banners, balloons, streamers, the works! The cake, card and thoughtful gift from my housemates were just so touching. The chicken wings, beer and karaoke booth downtown made the night oh-so memorable. The Facebook messages from friends near and far made me smile all day long. The trickle of cards and gifts that followed in the weeks after my birthday successfully dragged out the occasion as long as possible. The added bonus to this being that they arrive unexpectedly and therefore brighten up random days.

What I’m trying to say is that it’s amazing just how special and loved I felt on my birthday this year. I reckoned that the big moments like this would be the hardest whilst studying here this year. I was so wrong. Those back in the UK who made the effort to get in touch despite the distance are all so special to me. Those here in San Francisco who made the effort despite barely knowing me truly are wonderful. I know I should remember it every day but I’m afraid it did take my birthday to remind me how incredibly lucky I am to have the life I have and be surrounded by such kind, loving people. But now that I realise this I can thank my lucky stars every single day.

Who knows where I’ll celebrate my birthday next year, but if it’s half as good as it was this year then I’ll be winning.

Have a good one!