Week 19 - Personal

All my presents and cards

As each week feels shorter and shorter this was a week that I was going to try and make a memorable one as my birthday was on Thursday. I was turning the big twenty one and I had though awww I really want to be at home but as the big day got closer I was getting more and more excited and I realised it was going to be a brilliant day! On the Thursday I woke up early and was finally able to open the cards I had received during the week from my friends and family. It really made me think of home more but made me realise that I was going to be spending my birthday with some of the closest people in my life at the moment and who I will continue to be close with.

The jungle decorated flat

Now on my birthday at home the thought of going to class… well really I would probably not go. However, I went to class during the day and after a couple of Happy Birthday songs being sang in more than one language I actually enjoyed class on my birthday. Now as these past few weeks have went by, I have got to gain a very good friend from Finland, Mikael. As I said before if someone told before I had left for Erasmus that I was going to be friends with a Finnish guy I really would have told them to wise up. However, this is the case and so I went for usual birthday pints (of beer) with Mikael and we just enjoyed the beers and banter together! In the evening then we went back to the flat and Eimear, Beth and Sarah had made me my birthday dinner of a fry; it truly was awesome! A true taste of home! Also to make it even better Eimear and Beth had decorated the flat to look like a jungle for my jungle themed party… It really looked amazing! We then had a flat party that night with everyone on Erasmus and we really did have a good night. With many presents given and many drinks consumed I really did have a brilliant birthday with truly awesome people that I will never forget.

Reunited with Dojo!

To make the week even better we had booked to see our French friend Dojo (Jodie) in Bordeaux! Excited was an understatement! When we got to see her it just felt like we hadn’t left her! The weekend was full of laughs and memories/stories being retold. We got a true French taste of life in Bordeaux, walking through the city; down Europe’s longest street, tasting some Bordeaux wine etc. We also got to hit the beach and stay at Dojo’s beach house… words could not describe how beautiful the place was. The house was lovely and the scenery… unreal! One memory I will not forget was on the Sunday night sitting outside talking, drinking etc while a thunder and lightning storm lit up the sky! Even though saying good bye was very hard we still know that we will continue to see each other.

P.s. Top tip for this week, whenever a special occasion occurs in your life remember to try and realise how lucky and blessed you are to have so many things. 

Birthday memories!