The Start of My 33rd Year ~ Amanda

Last week we celebrated my birthday and since it was on a Wednesday we decided to spread the celebrating over a couple of days. 

Now, I do have to say this, my birthday was hard to want to celebrate this year. The day before my birthday I woke up to learn that my grandmother had passed away. It was expectedly unexpected and I was not prepared. I could have decided not to celebrate but I knew that my grandma would be mad at me for not having cake on my birthday.

The day started with peanut butter toast cuz why not?!?!?

I arrived at school for my last day of classes before finals. A few weeks before I learned that one of my co-workers, the Frenchman - Payam, and I share a birthday. So he and his students at least knew it was my birthday...mine did not. 

My students had Payam's math class first hour and they had proceeded to decorate the whiteboard with "Happy Birthday T. Payam!" I went to my rude-ass year 6 students who proceeded to be obnoxious. 

At lunch, Payam and I wished each other happy birthdays and he asked if my students had done anything for me yet. I responded, "No, I don't think they know it's my birthday." I had a class with them after lunch but still nothing. I admit, I was a little sad because I had already received a few birthday wishes from our favorite students back in Nong Khai. 

During a prep period I stepped outside to get a break from the noise and was soon asked to come back in during the kids' break and was met with...

and of course singing!

Was I starting to tear up, yes, but emotions were high. (Genie will argue that it's very easy to make me cry so this occurring is not a phenomenon).

Post school, Genie and I had plans to take advantage of the best birthday deal Bangkok has to offer: Sunrise Tacos offers a free entree and dessert to anybody on their birthday. I picked the most expensive burrito and a wonderful piece of carrot cake which is the best dessert I've had in Thailand.

I couldn't help but think how much my grandma would have enjoyed this cake.

On our trip to Chinatown last month we passed by the Bangkok Arts and Culture Center and I was intrigued. After some googling I discovered they had a special exhibit about LGBT Tolerance in South Eastern Asia...obviously we had to go!

The building was beautiful. It reminded me of a mini-Guggenheim. There were a bunch of little shops strewn about the first 4 floors. We were both wondering where all the art was. We finally got to the 5th floor were there was art. 

I saw origami butterflies and people painting them. I was sold.

There was a center art installation that was painted by a female artist who selects her colors based on smells rather than just color alone.

She then reached out to an arts group in Thailand that works with blind artists. They were asked to sniff her painting and then create works of their own entirely from the aromas that pleased them. 

Amanda's Butterfly

We stepped up to the table and were given two pieces of paper to follow their step-by-step instructions on how to make the origami butterfly. I had learned how to make one over the summer so I made mine in a minute then grabbed Genie's and did the same. The guy giving us instructions kept on going, he didn't see that I was done...this is when we learned that he was blind. We felt bad but moved on to painting our butterflies. Then we placed them on the wall with the other butterflies.

Genie's Butterfly

Here is a collection of the various works inspired from the original piece.

We then moved up to the next two floors which had the LGBT+ Tolerance in Southeast Asia. It was enlightening but not my favorite exhibit. Here are a few pieces I did enjoy.

Post the museum we decided to check out Lumpini Park, Bangkok's version of Central Park. It was beautiful and nice to walk around. 

This is an Asian Water Monitor Lizard clearly doing his job like a champ.

We were meeting our friends Olivia, Matt, and Keo at the Missing Burro. Yes, we've eaten at this place twice in one month, it's that good. Matt, another theatre nerd, informed me that the world tour of Matilda will be coming to Bangkok in the spring...I was very excited by this news. The boys surprised me by bringing a cake. 

Olivia, Genie, and I then headed to a karaoke bar and got a private room where we sang our hearts out for the next four hours.

Overall, it was a pretty good birthday. Thanks friends for helping me ring in year 33!

My mom sent this to me during the day. My mom and grandma had taken me to the Mall of America for the first time for a long weekend. It was Miss America night and this was my viewing outfit, clearly I was preparing for the evening wear portion.