I was lucky enough to have multiple celebratory meals and SIX different "cakes" :
1. An avocado "cake" given to me by William
2. Vegan, gluten-free cupcakes, made by Heather and Micah (and Gina and Elizabeth?), enjoyed by the harvesters and our office staff
3. Flan at a Mexico-City style Mexican restaurant for lunch with my colleagues (one of the most laughter-filled meals I have ever enjoyed)
5. A piece of chocolate cake from my housemate Dorsett
6. I also feel obliged to mention the Iskashitaa-themed cake that my aunt made for me the Saturday prior when we celebrated while I was home in Michigan! Everyone in Tucson was very impressed.
My birthday is also World Refugee Day, an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the incredible strength, resilience, spirit, and character of refugees. Refugee FOCUS, a resettlement agency in Tucson, held the grand opening for their new office downtown. It was great to celebrate this with them and to see their new space. Gina and I also got some beautiful henna done!
At the conclusion of the grand opening, everyone there walked down to the plaza in front of the library downtown and held a "flash mob." A highlight for me was doing the Cupid Shuffle in 100 degree weather with some of my coworkers and YAV friends. Following this music and dance, Heather and I led a "parade" of refugees to a nearby park center for a potluck.
I am so thankful for all the coworkers and friends I have here in Tucson. Before my birthday I didn't really have any plans aside from the World Refugee Day events and maybe trying to get free food somewhere. Yet thanks to my many friends, I did much more than that! It was a day of unending celebration, for which I am thankful.
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| Dinner with friends! |
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