Ulang Tahun

So last Thursday was my birthday. In typical me fashion, I didn't make a big deal out of it at all. The only person who I even told ahead of time was Peco because I knew he wouldn't make a big deal out of it either. Well, much to my surprise, it seems that everyone already knew. A list in chronological order of birthday surprises last Thursday.

1. A birthday card and 2 Toblerones from Yohanes and Peco.
2. Singing outside my classroom window from Pita and Mega.
3. Cupcakes with candles and a birthday song from my Spanish class.
4. Birthday song from the seventh graders.
5. Birthday SMSes from mom and dad.
6. A happy birthday sign on my mailbox.
7. The whole student body sang to me at lunch.
8. Birthday packages from my family.
9. Glory let me beat him at sudoku.
10. I got sang to and a card at Solafide (Bible study-ish)
11. A card and gift from Pita.
12. A styrofoam plate with a birthday message from Hoho.
13. SMSes from my family and from friends in South Africa.
14. Dinner out with Peco and Yo.
15. Email from my sister.

The days surrounding my birthday were full of surprises too. Including, but not limited to: A gift card from the school principal, a package from Katy, Jake, and Brian, various emails and messages, Bath and Body works from Sharon, and gifts from Ashley, Andre, Mega, and Tiffany. It's like my birthday won't end. That's OK. : )

I made Peco promise awhile ago that he wouldn't leave on my birthday. So he didn't. He left yesterday instead. It was a rough weekend, knowing that it was our last weekend with him for a long, long time. In celebration of that (and Tiffany's birthday), we went to Jogja for the day on Sunday. We left at 11:30 AM and got back at 2 AM. I'm STILL tired. We did everything though - from eating at Wendy's to ice skating (I have now gone ice skating more OUTSIDE America than I ever did while I actually lived there) to shopping to karaoke. And there was an awesome dinner in there too. Google "The Sawah Yogyakarta". That's where we ate. Pretty much amazing. Fun people. Fun stories. Fun... food? Yes. Pasti. Definitely.

One of our school's Bible classes invited a Muslim school to come visit one day last week. They informed the school ahead of time that they wanted to discuss religion, and they asked them to come prepared with questions. And boy, did they... I got a copy of the questions from one of the students. Some really made me think. Some really made me laugh. Some made me raise my eyebrows in amazement at how the rest of the world sees Christians. The questions are as follows, in their original glory.

1. What is your opinion about islam?
2. Do you feel strage, when you know that as moslem boy may not shake hands with girl?
3. We as moslem we belive that the god is only one and how about your religion? [Muslims believe that Christians worship 3 gods because we have the Trinity]
4. In islamic religion we as a atherent of islamic religion believe about tortures of the grave and how about you?
5. In Islam, reading the holy Qur'an is religius duties which bring merit , how about reading the bible?
6. A lot of moslem learn arabic language as the original language of Qur'an for the understanding the holy Qur'an well. How about you as the Christian?
7. What the difference between moslem in your country and moslem in indonesia?
8. Most of moslem in Indonesia was wear tight of clothes and vail wheares, it's forbidden in Islam because it is same with free genitals so,,,what do you think about it?
9. What is the obstacle of moslem in foreign countries?
10. What is your opinion about the terorism?
11. What do you think about moslem?
12. Is there some difference between moslem of Indonesia and foreign moslem in their life to do their duty as a moslem?
13. Are you surprised when seeing us wearing veil first time in Indonesia?
14. How Christian concider all prophets?
15. What is the difference between Indonesia and your country?
16. What is your opinion about the Islamic life?
17. What do you think about time in your life?
18. What do you think when the moslem is praying?
19. Can you tell me about the difference between mosque and church?
20. [This one is my favorite. It taught me a lot about my religion.] In your religion between couple dont changes!but in your religion between them can change couple "your wife is my wife, my wife is your wife". What your opinion about that?
21. In our religion between man and women forbide it to shake hand if they aren't a muhrim what your opinion about it, from your religion and please explain to us why?
22. Homo sex is forbidden in our religion, what your opinion about it?
23. How do you like indonesia?
24. What's yoru opinion about Salatiga city?
25. Do you agree if drugs is forbidden?
26. Do you agree about the opinion that Islam is terorism, why?
27. Do you feel that your God still love with you? And what the evidence of it?
28. Do you interest in Islam? And give me the reason!
29. What do you think about Islam culture?
30. What is your opinion about Islam and moslem after the incident of GAZZA?
31. What your opinion about zionist and jews? Do you agree with thier invansion to Palestine?
32. Do you think that being a good believer will effect someone life?
33. In any media, lots of information telling world that Islam is just about killing innocent people and self bombing, do you really believe it?
34. Is there something interesting taken from the islam culture ?
35. What is your opinion about the divorce in Christianity?
36. Are you happy to be a Christian?
37. If in the doctrine of Islam ther is concept about life after die. And we will get reward or punochment in accordance with something which we have done. Will go to heaven or go to hell. And in the doctrine of Christian, is there any concept about that?
38. could you tolerate to someone who comes late? As we know that be panctual is something important in life?
39. What is your favorite food in Indonesia?
40. in your country, is there Halal foundation that it delivers the certificate of Halal label in any product, especially for food and beverages?
41.

Yes. There is actually no number 41. So. Some food for thought. Number 36 really struck me. Think about it.