Friends, today yours truly is adding another notch to the signpost of life. Even at 22 ticks, I have been very fortunate to witness, perform, and live through so many wonderful experiences, they are already far too numerous to recount. However, I do know one thing with full certainty: none of the above could have ever been accomplished without the people around me. Family, friends - even complete strangers - all have a played a pivotal role in getting me to where I stand now. It is you who have stuck by me through the lows, highs, and the simple times that really make this life so special.
I was told that the Chinese always celebrate before an actual birthday, so I decided to follow suit. The party began on the 14th, but dragged well into the early hours of the 15th - my real birthday.
In order to get at least a little closer to home, I decided to take the gang to a local Russian restaurant. There are three in the Dongzhimen area and having been to two of them, it would only be fair that I give the last one a shot (okay - many, many shots). Between plates of olivie (cooked vegetable/meat salad), shuba (vegetables and pickled herring salad), varynyky and pil'meni (dumplings with potato/meat filling), golubtzi (meat stuffed cabbage leaves), dyruny (potato pancakes), crock-cooked beef, chicken Kiev and bottles of Khortytsa (Ukrainian vodka), as well as Baltika (Russian beer), everyone found something to their liking.
"For those of you that don't know me well enough, I am an aspiring politician..." The speech might have begun with some major BS, but I sent the first toast off to friendship, that most cherished of things in all of our lives. It amazes me how quickly strangers can come together to form everlasting bonds. Such is the case here - at the table we have represented Germany, France, Sweden, China, America, Canada and Ukraine. Amazingly, this is but a small cross-section of the people I've been able to meet in my month and a half in the Central Kingdom.
The plum-flavored Khortytsa was a huge hit with the crowd.
With all that vodka, we were getting pretty rowdy before the food arrived. As a result, each time a dish showed up, it did an instant disappearing act - oh yeah, it probably helped that everything coming out of the kitchen was delicious. Whether Russian or Chinese, the cook must have gotten the message not to disappoint tonight.
Nina may be Chinese, but speaks excellent Russian in addition to English. She spent a year in Russia and knows all about na zdarov'ye!
Andy the German is looking more like an Italian while explaining something to his comrades, auf Deutsch complete with hand signals.
Chris, Andy, and Brandon really outdid themselves with this one - not only did they get us a scrumptious cake, but they had to guess my age while doing it! Recent news to the contrary, today's spies can be slick and effective.
Francois is looking very...French. It was Bastille day, after all.
Yep, you wish you were there.
We made short work of those bottles. After drinking Chinese spirits, everyone would admit that Ukrainian and Russian alcohol is the best stuff around.
This photo would usually be taken with Mom's cake, but we did the best we could - which turned out superb.
If this were a military unit, Brandon would be the second in command, or XO (for Executive Officer). Here, XO is prompting the troops to form up for a group shot, though the task requires that much more effort and discipline when the unit has been properly lubricated by Eastern European spirits. You already know who the CO (for Commanding Officer) would be. He's the one for whom modesty is not a character flaw.
The group. Two Canadians and a German had to make off earlier - it being a Wednesday night for the more dedicated among us - so the group is somewhat incomplete. From left-to-right and back-to-front: Nina (China), Olaf(Sweden), Francois (France), Rockxuan (China), Brandon (USA - Virginia), Me, Chris (Germany), Andy (Germany), and Leelo (China). After this, it was off to Sanlitun for some much-needed dancing!
To another successful year!
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