Birthday Part Two :)

On Monday a couple of my roommates convinced me to join them on a walk to check out a gym and do some food shopping.  It was really nice to spend time during daylight out on the streets together.  The gym was really nice... but expensive on our stipend.  The gym membership might wait for a while.  We also ventured to a new grocery store.  It was a really nice different store.  I think it is the most "American" grocery store we have found.  (Not that we were necessarily looking for one).  It is a very clean, variety filled store.  After buying some groceries we decided to bus back to the Shuk.  It was very fun to venture through the Shuk with Alan.  He is quite the pro.  We came prepared and brought our backpacks, which made the walk home much easier.

Then it was nice to relax for a bit before continuing with my birthday celebrations.

In the mid afternoon we began cleaning and cooking together, preparing for our guests.  It was a lot of fun to have people over to our home.  (It has been a really nice shift from our house, to our home).  People from Rishon, Ramle/Lod and some Israelis joined us to celebrate.  It was such a great night!  I was sitting on the floor enjoying some dinner, and all of a sudden I looked up to see my awesome aunt and uncle in my house.  Needless to say I was confused for a second.  My uncle told me he saw I was having a party on facebook, and how could they not come!  It was such a wonderful surprise.  Our neighbors we met recently also came by.  A beautiful family, with three kids.  They even brought me a present, it was so thoughtful!

May also came by after a long day of work.  She brought the best present ever!  A basketball :)  I haven't had a chance to play yet, but I need to.  It was really nice that May came and I got to see her mom.  I really felt loved and enjoyed my birthday so much.  I can't remember enjoying my birthday so much in several years.  One of my roommates insisted on buying a birthday cake.  It was really overwhelming and nice when everyone sang happy birthday.

It was just an excellent perfect night :).