Really feel very lucky to have all my friends, new and old, around me this birthday. Never thought it would be the biggest birthday ever of my life so far.

Although I felt a little sick in the morning, the day just got better and better. After having received a parcel and an e-card the day before, you start feeling a little light-headed. But phone calls from all over the world, long insightful chats..I feel really lucky.

After the French test, I seek the advice of a girl at the "minimart" run by students, open every evening. She advises a brownie, a cake from Bretagne and juice. Phew, thought I would have to choose the alcohol.

Everybody's great on my floor. They stay with me, discuss and the good feeling spreads. They are recognised as adults when they turn 18 in France and they are surprised to learn that it's 21 in Singapore.

Some of them accompany me to the bar tuniso-moroccan. I eat the brik-salade(big triangular spring roll), salad, pastries, mint tea and dates. Sumptious! First time I tried Middle eastern cuisine.

There are pple smoking tabacco mixed with fruit from an Aladdin's lamp. Song Yun, your card hit the nail on the head!

At 1030, we cut a chocolate cake kindly baked by Dawn in the kitchen on Alan's floor. His birthday was the day b4. We stay around and discuss Buddhism and other religions, the Russian submarine accident in July, etc. till 3am.

I fell asleep really satisfied.

The next day, I receive some more wishes. A mysterious phone call from a Spanish guy in my class who wants to discuss Spain with me late that night. He arrives around mignight and shuts the door.

After around 5 mins, I hear singing and two other classmates holding a freshly-baked choco cake are outside my door! It takes me several moments to realise what's going on.

I receive a scented candle in a champagne glass from there. While trying to smell the scent, the tip of my nose gets too close to the fire. Whoops!

Forced to drink vodka again, that makes it 2 shots in 2 days. U have to swallow in down in 1 gulp and it warms ur throat. U're supposed to eat a bit of bread or cake immediately after to get rid of the taste. …

We stay up until 3 talking. Late nights ain't good for me but exceptions like this have to be admitted once in a while.

A BIG thank you to all, family and friends who made this day really special for me!

Hsieng

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