J'ai 20 years

So the one present I told my friends I wanted was to not plan anything myself on my birthday. I find I spend a hunk of time each week putting myself under the pressure of doing random tasks that I assign myself like travel outlines, writing, Podclub, this summer, etc…. you know you’re in a good place when if you weren’t living your life, you’d wish you were. But this coupled with my French school stuff can get a little involved so the 26^th was going to be my day of “fuck it”.

Naturally I spent the first half of it eyeball-deep in preparation for a presentation on the Greek stadiums at Delphi and Olympia. Luckily I had an amazing partner who bought me coffee and did most of the French work (French work= ALL of the work) while me and Cléos, the “breakdancing rabbit” (the sign on the side of his cage claimed), looked on, bonded by our mutual inability to communicate or talk about Greek archeology.

Walking home after saying goodbye to Morgane, Cléos, and Biblio Café, I felt good. I stopped in a gallery that’s on my way home and hung out for a while to warm up before I crossed the stone bridge over the Clain river, which always manages to make me feel all tranquil and “zen” and whatever. I got home, was locked out of my house, bought a banana at L.Clerc (grocery store), got inside, got ready, and started to head out to meet Clara for drinks downtown. Before leaving, my host mother popped a bottle of champagne with a “C’est pas toujours tu as 20 ans!) It’s not every day you’re 20! I told her yeah, except for the next 365. She just poured me champagne. After tons of hugs and sporting the cork of the bottle around my neck like a medallion, I headed out. Convinced by my family, I called Byron to walk with me.

He: “Uh…uh……yeah! Uh…..I have something to give you, are you heading out now?”

Me: “Aw! Sweet! Yeah! Wanna come with?”

He: “Uh….I’m actually making your cake right now….”

Me: “…..”

He: “…..”

Me: “AW! I’M COMING OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

I got to his house, and upon receiving my gift of a badass unicorn drawing he’d made, we decided to abandon the unfinished cake until the next day and hit the bricks. Arriving at Notre Dame I saw an eclectic circle of people I feel lucky to call my friends. Seriously though, hanging out together we look GOOFY! I promise that when we’re with one another I don’t think of them as their respective nationalities, but for the viewers at home it might help for some context.

Éliana from Cyprus gave me the coziest of scarves, Patrick from Canada gave me a New Brunswick magnet and a bottle of maple syrup, Clara from Oregon (and my bed the night before humina humina!) gave me a bottle of Absolute vodka, Paulo from Brazil had copied one of my old facebook profile pictures in pencil! I’ve decided to replace my mirror with it because I have never looked better. At dinner Josh let me wear his Native American barrette thingies (I’m sorry Josh I just DON’T know what else to call them) and the restaurant gave us a round on the house of their homemade pear liquor.

Such a happy and drunk little camper.

Afterwards we all went to a bar where I encountered something called “a Giraffe” which is just basically the Seattle Space Needle filled with beer.

It gets fuzzier after that.

Anyhow, as I leave my parents anxious on that note, the next day my host family surprised me yet again with a big spicy chocolate cake (with thankfully only 2 candles), a jar of Nutella, and a box of cherry liqueur chocolates on which Yanna had written things like “Happy Birthday Grandmother!” and “Naomi: Miss. Nutella”

You’re damn right Yanna.

Thoughts on turning 20? Not gonna lie, it’s a little scarier being 20 for some reason. I am so used to being the young explorer and having the people around take care of me, that breaking away from that is not an entirely comfortable thing. Coming to France I have worked hard and learned many ways with which I can hold my own and not depend on the strong mother hens I’ve been lucky enough to have in my life this far (yeah, I’m lookin’ at you Ray), and I know that they’re there if I need them. In the midst of all my angst and fear surrounding this entry point into a new decade, I think my friend Clara said it best: The 20s are amazing, everyone says so. If I think I’ve had fun so far, and I do, how much more fun is going to be available to me as I boldly go and take my place/ next step as a twenty-something?

At least I have global family to take with me, buy me “Giraffes,” and make sure I am always on the right side of danger.

Long Live Miss Nutella.