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So, here it is: my first birthday away from home. Completely alone.
Apart from my amazing flatmates, of course!
The build up to the weekend was a nerve-wracking experience. On one hand, I was just generally excited about the fact that in a few short days I was going to turn 19. On the other was the fear that no one would care and I wouldn’t have as much fun as I would have back home. After all, you’re thrown together with a group of people you may or may not like and who may or may not like you, let alone know you: expecting them to make a fuss over your birthday is a bit much, isn’t it?
Apparently not! I awoke on the Saturday morning to balloons outside my room and “Happy Birthday” banners outside my door. I had singing and ukulele playing and cake and my favourite biscuits and… well I could go on and on and on, but I won’t. Suffice to say that from 12 in the morning to 11 at night, it was an amazing day. Unlike those “surprise” parties you have as a child that really aren’t surprising at all, I was totally oblivious to this one – result? Permanent silly grin that earned me some very strange looks in Evil Eye.
But even if they hadn’t made a fuss, the fact that they had thought about it was enough. For once, it really was the thought that counted and what made this day mean so much to me.
Of course, there were some disadvantages to being all the way up here, and having everything I’d ever known all the way down south. For one thing, in a totally practical way, I couldn’t pick up parcels or letters from old friends and relatives on my actual birthday because the Porter’s Lodge is closed at the weekend.
But, picking up post all the week after means that in actual fact, your birthday lasts for several days, rather than just one. To the argument that no one really knows you, I’d give your flatmates a bit more credit and say that while a birthday at University is a different experience, with new people you can get the chance to do something new, something different, and get away from the 'same old, same old' that birthday’s can sometimes turn into at home. University-life is a complete roller coaster: when things are bad, you feel them more keenly… but then when things are fun – they’re absolutely amazing!
Finally, although it is true that the majority of us (I hope) will miss their family on such a day, once you get the inevitable homesickness-inducing phone call out of the way, you can do what you like! This is the greatest advantage to having your birthday away from home: no rules, no restrictions. You can stay in bed all day and stay out all night if you so wish (although the buses stop running at 12 on Saturdays, which was annoying). And there’s no one to tell you off.
So why shouldn’t we feel bad about having a birthday away from home? I can tell you now that I’ve learnt birthdays are not about the presents, or even where you go or what you do: it’s about who you’re with - being with your new friends. That’s what makes it worthwhile.
And while I missed my friends and family from home, I have to say, in my case, it was one of the best birthdays yet.
And 19 is never too old to enjoy a birthday.
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