When I was packing my luggage in 2024 going to Buenos Aires, all I could think about was the excitement of getting to be with my boyfriend again after several months of being long-distance. I was giddy about the fact that we would be celebrating all the holidays together plus our birthdays. However, 24 hours before I added one to my age, I found myself sobbing at the most trivial thing which is looking for a cookie cake for my birthday celebration.
It’s my first time celebrating my birthday outside of my hometown. I was always with my parents on my birthday. Since I hit my teens, we’ve drifted away from the usual cooking loads of stuff at home and inviting friends, we now went with the easier route of eating outside, which I’ve always looked forward to. I love trying new restaurants.
This year, it was different. It started the night before, when my boyfriend and I were planning our activities. I was insistent on having a cookie cake for my birthday because I’ve taken a liking to cookies since last year. However, when I tried looking for it myself, I was heartbroken that it wasn’t really a thing in Argentina. For the main meal, I requested grilled fish, like the one we usually eat as a family on a Sunday lunch. I mentioned two of the most common fish from my hometown “Tilapia” and “Bangus” but knowing they were not common here, too, sent me into a downward spiral of longing for my hometown. I am actually not at home.
I spent the entire night crying my homesickness away and my boyfriend told me it’s going to be okay and I’m going to have fun.
The morning of, I’ve calmed down from last night’s breakdown. I woke up to several messages from my friends. My dad called me and we had a chat before he went to sleep. I could see that he was sad, and probably was about to cry. It was my first birthday that we won’t be together physically, but it’s not like I’ve vanished from Earth. I’m still here… just 11 hours later.
Come noon, we traversed through a 30 C heat to go to the capital. We had a protein filled lunch in the form of fried wings and potatoes after which, we walked a bit more.
Babi showed me these yellow star signs by the corners. He explained that these are to commemorate victims of accidents that happened on the road which I found very interesting. He mentioned that these are common here in Argentina but I never noticed it where we are. I need to be more observant.
We then arrived at the Ecopark! It was free admission, we just walked in and enjoyed the nature walk in the middle of a busy city.
I used to love zoos as a kid, but upon realising that a zoo is nothing but a fancy cage for animals that are supposed to be elsewhere, my admiration died.
This was what I thought it was before coming in, why would I want to see animals in cages? But to my surprise, it wasn’t like that too much. Yes, there were still animals in cages, well, fences. The giraffes, ostriches, buffalos, and a condor supposedly although we didn’t see it, but I do understand the reasoning why, we wouldn’t want them to get harms by mindless visitors.
The rest of the animals however are literally free to roam.
We saw loads of mara patagónicas just chilling where there is grass. They look like capybaras because they’re related, and they seem very friendly, too. Although we didn’t attempt to touch them. There were also turtles and fishes just swimming in this wide lake that reminded of Laguna lake.
We also saw a group of flamingos. So colourful and eye-catching.
There are also peacocks just walking around wherever. I was happy to see that people and kids were respectful and are not harassing the animals.
After 2 hours of walking, we went back home to eat my favourite stir-fried noodles by babi and he sang “Happy Birthday” with a tub of ice cream. We then watched “Anatomy of a Fall” before falling asleep.
The day after we had this big meal planned with babi’s family. It started with us buying fish which I got excited with. Ever since I got here, I haven’t eaten fish!
We then swam for a bit, which wasn’t the wisest for me because I gifted myself pain in the form of piercings in the helix and on my right nostril. Regardless, we had fun playing volleyball in the pool.
They cooked fish for me, rice, and soup. It felt like a Sunday noon with my family again. It felt like we just finished swimming in Pansol and dad’s already shouting “Kain na.” I got emotional when they whipped out a cookie ice cream cake with a star candle. I almost cried. I felt touched that they celebrated my birthday even though I literally was an extranjera.
I also received gifts! Shoes and a necklace. My heart is so full.
This is proof that wherever you go, you will always have a home and a family to go, too.
Now, that our birthday is done. It’s time to celebrate the birthdays of my loved ones! (I’m always the first one to celebrate, which I like because it’s close to the New Year and the Feast of the Nazarene, it’s impossible for my friends to forget. Lol.)
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