Birthdays in Vietnam

Our friend Gary recently turned 50. We had a good party for him. It started by going down to his place and carrying him down the street to a friends house where we had a surprise party lying in wait. We did some games, had some great food, and had a nice time.

Birthday's and parties seem to be a common thing with our circle of friends. It also gives us a change to get together, but also gives us an opportunity to show off Ava. People are always astounded at how big she's gotten. When you haven't seen a two year old for four or five months, you've basically missed a fifth of our life. Some people were at the party couldn't believe how she's grown.

Birthdays are not just fun, they are those opportunities for the expat crowd to get together. Living in a foreign country can be a bit alienating some times, and despite living in Asia for 10 years, I'll always be seen as a foreigner, not one that has integrated into the local way of living.

Sadly, that crowd of friends comes and goes; especially in international teaching. In the photo above, 6 people will not be here next year. They've all put their fingerprint on our daughter and we'll have to bid them "adieu" when June rolls around. I wonder if we'll meet up in the future and if Ava will remember them. Only time will tell.