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It’s Birthday Day!

Family / by

Well, today is a big day in the Martin Household, at least for one Martin anyway! Yep, it’s our daughter’s birthday today! Jean Jean is turning 11 years old today! We are having a nice party at Felis Resort in Matina Aplaya, here in Davao City. Fellow LiP Columnist, John Grant has been doing some consulting at Felis, and I must say that he has done a wonderful job there. I had never been to Felis before, but at John’s invitation, I went there for lunch a couple of weeks ago, and I liked it so much that I decided to go back several times already. When Feyma and I brought Jean Jean there last week to see the place, she immediately said that she wanted her birthday party to be there! So, it is!

So, I wanted to take this occasion to have a look at the differences between Kid’s birthday parties here compared to in the States. In the USA, birthday parties that are given for kids are mostly just attended by other kids. Here, it’s not like that, people of all ages are invited to kid’s birthday parties! I mean, grown up adults (who don’t even have kids) are invited, and usually are in attendance too. It’s not like that in the States. What about in the country where you live, do adults attend kids’ birthday parties?

Well, I am sure that Jean will have a good time today. She is having maybe around 20 kids from school coming to the party, and some adults too. The activities include eating, swimming and having a good time! Of course there will be some birthday present opening mixed in too! Should be fun for all attending!

Happy Birthday, Jean Jean. I hope you know how much I love you!

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Comments

  1. Happy Birthday, Jean Jean!

    Hope the party is most enjoyable. They're just as you describe, and more – kids' birthday parties are well attended by adults with everyone bringing food, drink, etc. Over 58 enjoyed between my two sons, and always look forward to the next.

    Of course, kids' birthdays are just one "excuse" for the adults to have a party! 😉

  3. Hi Paul – I just got back from the party, and a good time was had by all! We really enjoyed it very much, as did all the guests! The kids were especially happy with the swimming!

    Hi Cheryll Ann – Thanks for the greeting – from Jean Jean!

  5. Happy birthday JeanJjean … many happy returns.
    Nope, back in my part of the USA adults aside from immediate family never attend a birthday aprty for a child. That's one of the great things, to me, about living here. Today the family finally finished … maybe … almost a week of celebrating my little nephew Mazen's third birthday and mine as well … he's on the 13th, iI'm on the 12th, but since I was "made" on US time my birthday really is the 13th here. For his second birthday last year we rented time at one of those play centers in the mall and about 50 people showed up … less thna half were kids. A great time was had by all.

    This year Mita's om isn't so well so we had lunch at momma's house for me on the 12th (all meals have to include something with long noodles for long life), lunch again for me and Mazen the next day and today a family feast at momma's because several relatives could only make it duting the weekend. I won't say Mita cooked much but even though it's only about 100 meters we had to take the car to carry everything.

    It was really fun to see the smile on Mazen's face … it was even more enjoyable to see momma get into the occasion and eat and get that little knowing smile she gets when she wathes her daughters all make chismis in the kitchen and watches the younger ones at play. After my first few birthday's here I don;t think a "kids only" party would be anywhere near as much fun.

  8. Hi Tina – Thanks to you, from the birthday girl!

    Hi Dave Starr – Happy Birthday to you too, then! It sounds like you had a nice celebration!

    Thanks to you also, Luz!

  9. Hi Jean Jean, Happy belated birthday 😀 I was looking forward to see you all last February but things got out of hands for Zena and I. It was not our most pleasant trip, hospitals and funeral don't make nice vacations. We hope to return again next year. Jean Jean your picture shows you as a lovely young lady, I am happy to have met you. Please give mom and dad our love.

    Michel

  10. Hi Michel – I'll pass along your wishes to Jean Jean! She will be happy. You wouldn't believe how big she is these days compared to when you saw her! 😀

  11. Hi BoB Phil R here ..i went to a birthday party for the son of a Judge [ King]of the mountain ..it was impressive too, well at lest i was impressed…lots of people an lots of food and a live band …