So it’s my birthday today and as of four in the afternoon today, I am officially twenty-two. 

It’s the second consecutive year of me spending my birthday away from home.  Last year I was grueling along with my fellow classmates inside the four wall of the UST, cramming as much information as we can inside our heads for the June 2009 Licensure Examination.  It wasn’t much of a sacrifice because I was basically with my family away from home anyway.  I spent the day inside a dark auditorium with a hundred and fifty other students, trying not to fall asleep on the Professional Adjustment lectures. Then I think I spent the rest of the evening with a couple of friends inside a local Starbucks. 

Now, on the other hand, I am here in Cabanatuan, on site for the job.  It’s a totally new experience because for the first time ever, I am truly away from my family. 

I’m not even in Manila anymore.  I work with recently graduated nursing students preparing for the June 2009 Licensure Examination.  I only told my boss that today was my birthday last night and I had no intention of telling any of the students.  We weren’t close to each other anyway so what would be the point? 

But, as these things have a way of leaking out, the moment I stepped inside the classroom the place erupted with a drunken version of “Happy Birthday”.  A student added me last week on Friendster and she leaked out the info to the rest of the class.  It was a bit awkward, but it’s a new experience and I appreciate the love.  The day passed on like any other day, except for the fact that I get text greetings from friends and family every so often. 

Another new experience for me is to spend the night of my birthday alone.  I was given the choice to go home to Malinta today with my boss, as he drove home the lecturer for the day, but I declined.  Had I gone home to Malinta I would’ve arrived at home at around eight in the evening and I’d be back here in Cabanatuan by seven in the morning.  My body’s just not in its prime shape for such a beating. 

So I opted to stay here, even though I’ll spend the night alone in the staff house.  Which meant that I had to pay for my own dinner, which is yet another new experience for me because for the first time every, I ate food that was out of my very own pocket.  I got my salary yesterday so now I am self-sufficient enough to pay for my own birthday dinner. 

As I sit here in the restaurant where I can leech off free Internet, I thank God for these new experiences.  I realize that it could’ve been a whole lot worse but thanks to Him and to the Internet, my birthday’s a whole lot less lonely.