Birthday Celebration

Today I experienced my first birthday celebration and it was an experience. Lara, my student who spent the first two weeks crying everyday, came in with her near perfect English and started to sing the happy birthday song. With her big smile and overly excited body she told me it’s her birthday and so I wished her a happy birthday. Shortly later, Angela comes in to tell me that during lunch we will have cake in celebration of Lara’s birthday. Lunch time came around and Angela reminded all the children to eat quickly so we could have cake. After the students finished their lunch and we cleaned up Angela and another helper come in with party hats, banner, cake, chocolate milk, oranges, candy, and cookies. I immediately thought overkill but put on a smile and joined a long in the celebration. We put up the banner, wore birthday hats, sang happy birthday, took lots of pictures and then proceeded to stuff our faces with sugar. Amazed at all that was brought in I asked Angela if the school provided it and she told me this is all Lara’s mothers doing. Sharing my experience with the other teachers it is apparently common to have a birthday celebration similar to this one. I can only say I look forward to eight more of these celebrations and hay I am never one to say no to sweets. I just feel bad for Miss. Alison because she has my students after lunch, kids on a sugar high never any good. Sorry Miss Alison :)