The Peculiarities of a Birthday Abroad

Yesterday marked my 23rd year as an air-breathing human. The first half of my day was a self-pitious mess. I missed home, I lamented over the slow service and bad Pad Thai I received, and I pined for a better book to read. On the verge of being a total misty-eyed-mess I made my way to an internet cafe.

This internet cafe was a thing of beauty. For once I had broadband speeds that actually rivaled those at home. I was able to download and watch YouTube videos and clips of The Daily Show. Once my hungers for pop-culture were sated, I opened up Skype and began calling family and friends back home.

I don't have a cell phone on this trip, so there is no way for folks at home to contact me other than email. Which meant that it was up to me to give people an opportunity to sing me "Happy Birthday". Initially I would call, and chit chat about whatever - hoping that eventually my conversational partner would catch wise and sing me the birthday ballad.

By the time I called my sister Tamara the conversation went something like this:

DONOVAN

Hi Tam. Sorry to call you while you're at work. But since I had a good internet connection I figured I'd give you a buzz.

TAMARA

Oh, hi Bro. Let me just get somewhere that's not a cubicle.

DONOVAN
There's no point beating around the bush here. I'm calling to wish myself a happy birthday.

TAMARA
Huh? You're what?

DONOVAN

I'm calling to wish myself a happy birthday.

TAMARA
Happy Birthday Donovan!

Long Semi-Awkward Pause

TAMARA (Continued)
Do you want me to sing you the Birthday song or something?

DONOVAN

That would be most excellent.

TAMARA sings the Birthday song.

DONOVAN
Okay, well it was great talking to you, have a good day at work.

TAMARA

Okay, take care.

So pitiful was this display, that the kindly Brittish lady who was sitting next to me in the e-cafe wished me a Happy Birthday. She then explained that it was her son's 45th birthday and he'd just had a child. She then said "I sort of wish that I was home to be there with him. But to be honest, [being on vacation in Laos] is way better."

In retrospect it seems a horribly selfish a babyish thing to do. But it in all honesty, it made my day and bouyed my spirits to no end. It was good to talk to folks back home and feel like I was still connected to the rest of the world.

After all this Gabriel took me out to dinner where I had a Beer Lao and capped the night off with a Rotee, the Laosian Churro equivalent.

A good day. Thanks too all who talked and sent well wishes my way, It was greatly appreciated.