Surprise Birthday Party

I have the best classmates and friends in the world that I could ever ask for.

On Wednesday, I got home from a 2 week bus trip around Peru. Being exhausted, the 2 days after getting home consisted of sleeping, eating, cleaning, and watching YouTube. I didn't go to school because this was finals week and I didn't need to be there for those tests. I'm not actually in my school's system, so they don't account for any of those grades. My teachers grade my work and give it to me, but it doesn't actually get recorded anywhere.

After being away for over 2 weeks, I really missed my friends at school. I made plans with one of my best friends, Fernanda, to spend Friday night at her house eating snacks and watching Netflix. I at first spent the evening with my host parents, and we visited some people. While I was on my bus trip, they went on a trip to Argentina. The family we visited here in Lima was family of the people they stayed with in Argentina. Everyone knows everyone around here... We didn't stay there too long, and then I got to leave to go to Fernanda's house.

Once I got to the village, where she lives, I was greeted by her super awesome mom and we went to their house. I walked in the house, and Fernanda was there all dolled up, and I pointed out how beautiful she looked. I was also warmly greeted by her wild younger brothers, Mateo and Tomas. She had me race upstairs to her room with her; and when I got to her room, I was surprised to find some of my other classmates there doing their hair and makeup. I knew there would be other girls there, but I was not expecting them to look so nice for a night of snacks and Netflix. They said they were getting ready to go to party, and plopped me into a chair with many hair and makeup tools in hand. I was confused, and told them I didn't think my parents knew that we were going to a party- but they reassured me that they knew. I figured plans had just changed and Fernanda's mom was outside talking to them about it. But no- my host parents were in on this surprise.

This party was apparently for the birthday of our classmate, Diego, I was told. I didn't think anything of it of course. Just getting ready to go to a birthday party for our friend, Diego. We had fun just doing each other's hair and makeup and hanging out. Because I was very not dressed in party clothes, Fernanda gave me a shirt to wear for the party. While we were doing this, the taxi was almost there at the house. Everyone was ready to go, but it was beginning to look like Fernanda might not be able to go to the party because she wasn't feeling well. Finally the taxi arrived for all of us and we headed downstairs. Because all of the lights were off, my friend, Frezia, had the flashlight on her phone (it was actually recording a video) so we could see going down the stairs. When I got downstairs, all of the lights were off there too. It was like that when I arrived, but this time I could see Fernanda sitting in her dark living room while the hallway was also dark, which I found a little strange. I began walking in to with the other girls to see what she was doing. Just then, Fernanda turned on some party lights, and I turn around and see my entire class standing in the dining room while they yell "SURPRISE!".

I was so surprised. Especially since my actual birthday wasn't until the next day. I genuinely believed and had accepted before coming over that everyone had forgotten about or at least not considered my birthday. Well, my host family at least. They didn't mention my birthday the entire time I'd been home until I got home from this party and they wished me a happy birthday. I had texted a few of my friends about it, but I was not expecting them to do anything, like throw a surprise party. I couldn't believe it, I'd never had a surprise birthday party before.

It was such a fun night full of dancing and games and just hanging out with friends. It went for a while, about 3 ish hours, going from I'm guessing 10:00 to 1:00. I was so excited to see all of my classmates and celebrate my birthday with them. I really couldn't have asked for anything better.