almost 30...

Well, it's that time of year again..... Yup, today's my birthday. 26. Now that one's starting to sound old and I'm not sure how I feel about that. Sometimes I look at my life and I think: "hmmm, I'm in my (now) later twenties but I still live with my parents, don't have a 'career'-type job yet, and don't own anything big like a car". But then other people tell me "But we've never travelled half-way across the world by ourselves." Good point. So I guess we all show our "grown-up-ness" in different ways.
I'm kind of caught in the middle of wanting to be "mature and grown-up" and wanting to stay young and sheltered at the same time.

It's funny because I work in a high school and everyone there thinks I'm really young. A bunch of the students even think (or at least thought at first) that I'm a student, too. I just tell myself that looking 8 years younger than I am will be a very good thing when I'm 50!

So, there are a few pessimistic thoughts, but I am looking forward to today. I'm having some friends and family over for supper tonight. Yesterday, a bunch of the Sr. High from church came over and surprised me with a cake (thanks, guys!). And this morning I'm going bowling with my Grandma! Good times (she always whips my butt, though!) And, of course, as I work in a school in Manitoba, this week there's NO SCHOOL! A day off of work is always good.

And, of course, I'm expecting a phone call from Ecuador.... Here's a picture of my friends Elizabeth and Ximena at the birthday party they threw for me when I turned 24. My mom had arrived to visit the day before and Ximena had secretly arranged for her to bring a bunch of my baby pictures, of which they made a collage. Sweet, eh? Yeah, I was pretty cute...and still am! ;)

Bueno, hoy es mi cumpleanos--tengo 26 anos! Wow, soy viejita!! De verdad, hay un parte de mi que siente muy immadura, todavia muy dependente. Aqui en Canada es un pocquito raro tener 26 anos y todavia vivir con tus padres (si no eres estudiante). Tengo muchos amigos quien ya tiene carreras "reales", tienen su proprio casas (al menos estan alquilando), tienen su proprio carros, etc. Aveces es dificil no pensar que todavia no soy "adulte." Pero luego, mis amigos me dicen que ellos no han viajado al otro lado del mundo solos.... Bueno punto. Talvez hay mas de una manera ser "adulto."
Hay una parte de mi que quiere ser mas madura, pero hay una otra parte que todavia quiere ser nina.
Es chistoso porque en el colegio donde trabajo, muchos de los estudiantes han pensando que soy estudiante tambien. Bueno, me digo, cuando tengo 50 anos, voy a querer mirar 8 anos menos que soy!!

Mas de estos pensamientos pessimistas, creo que voy a tener un dia linda. Voy a salir con mi abuelita (jugamos bowling) y luego voy a cenar con mi familia y una amiga.

Siempre me acuerdo de mi cumpleanos en Ecuador. Gracias a todos por hacerlo un dia muy especial!