Ben Tshin

I know this is probably late, but the lovey-dovey feelings of Valentine’s Day still hang in the air.

There wasn’t much Valentine cheer going around the Medair compound. Not enough love-struck people. But I was looking forward to my satellite phone call with Joeie in Hong Kong. It’s been three weeks since we’ve talked and our voices sounded strange to one another. It might have been the long time or maybe the satellite connection. Either way, communication is a big concern for this year apart. Not just with Joeie, but with family and friends back home and even the MCBC community. Already, I’m starting to feel as though the world at home kept on chugging along at its steady and fast pace after I jumped off.

I admit, Valentine’s Day without Joeie is lonely. There aren’t even roses, flowers or chocolate. Although, thankfully, Sudan also doesn’t have the Valentine’s Day hype either. There’s only a satellite phone. But at least there’s a satellite phone. Actually, I’m glad there’s more than one because CG forgot to charge his. Valentine’s Day without any of that would have been even more lonely and far away.

Your turn now, Joeie: Happy Birthday!

This week has been so much about birthdays and birthday celebrations. Of course, part of that is because of mine and now Joeie’s. But November is the birthday month. I’m not biased: just off the top of my head I count twelve. And that’s from a relatively small circle of friends and acquaintances. I blame whomever that Valentine guy is (or according to Wikipedia, numerous Valentines). Funny thing is that most non-November babies don’t realize: February 14 + 9 months = November! We joke about Valentine’s Day conceptions, and it’s likely exactly true.

So November is now super packed with dinners and parties for either my birthday or hers. I should have planned ahead because the week before I had sushi buffet (excellent), Korean BBQ (too much food), and prime rib steak. So having birthdays back-to-back is going to be hectic each year. But it’ll also be a super fun week of just having a good time!

Unfortunately, anybody having a birthday in these two weeks doesn’t get much time to even say “Happy Birthday” to themselves. First, you don’t have any say in when you pop out of the womb. And second, you don’t have any more say in when exams are scheduled. I pity some friends who’ve received exams as birthday presents.

So Joeie: Happy Birthday. Just remember that your birthday present from York is Christmas break starting on Tuesday. And also all things pretty and shiny!