I pulled up to this amazing home and rang the doorbell. I was immediately welcomed by the parents of my student. Expecting to come into a house filled with balloons, decorations, a huge cake, tons of presents wrapped in colorful birthday paper and big bows, and some sort of hot dog/hamburger combination to eat. Boy was I ever wrong! I walked into this home full of around 30-40 Filipino people. There were no balloons, no decorations, the cake was hidden away, there were a few presents out on a dining room coffee table stuffed in bags or left in the box. What was out for show was TONS of food, buffet style, including a huge turkey, a side of a cow, seriously!, oh and a roasted pig, head and everything! And did I mention this food was all homemade?? The mom told me, her and her husband had been cooking since early this morning. All this for her 5 year old daughter's birthday party! Wow!
So here I am, a young, white girl surrounded by these loving, beautiful people celebrating the birth of this young girl in a completely different way that I had ever seen growing up! I was so speechless. And of course, if you're a teacher you know that when one of your students see you outside of school, you're like a movie star! They can't believe it! Kids really do think you live at school. My little birthday girl friend immediately took my hand and wanted me to meet her family. "Hey so and so, meet Mrs. Downs." "Hey so and so, meet Mrs. Downs." She never took me to see her cake, her presents, nothing! The only way I knew the cake was there was because I had walked to the trash can and her cake was hidden away in the box away from the party. Crazy! So selfless. I know when I was young, the cake and presents and balloons were the center of the party! The food and family time was just a bonus, side thing, not here. Family time and fellowship was the center of the gathering. I love that! Her party was about celebrating her birth and her life, in a way that truly exemplified that!
So on my 20 minute drive back to the apartment, I couldn't help but think how superficial and selfish Americans really are! It's amazing how 30 minutes at a 5 year old birthday party will open your eyes to such a big idea! Just another thing to jot down on my "how to raise our kids" list...
And by the way, Aaron took his last test of Anesthesia school!!! Only boards left to go! WOOOO HOOOO!!!
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