On the 9th of February, my hostfamily invited me and some friends over to their house to celebrate my birthday. They cooked dinner (more like a feast), for me and they baked a cake and various desserts. Everyone sang happy birthday and we had a lovely evening together. I even received some gifts.

After dinner, I went Downtown with my friends and we went clubbing. You all know how college students party, so yeah.. Let's just leave it at that.

When the clock struck midnight on my actual birthday, I was already in bed when my friends came barging into my room and dragged me out of bed and into the dorm lounge where the rest of the 9th floor was waiting. They also baked a cake for me and sang happy birthday. I thought this was a really nice and sweet gesture of them, as we've become great friends in the matter of a few weeks since we first met.

I had 3 classes on my birthday so I had a quick birthday lunch with my closest friends and some of them organized a birthday dinner at a fancy restaurant for me that night.

After my classes I went to the International Students house and was just chilling in the lounge when I received another cake and a whole plate of brownies with a candle on it so of course it had to be lit and everyone sung for me for the umpteenth time today.

As we were just hanging out in the lounge, everyone started receiving texts, emails, other digital notifications that the school buildings were on lockdown as there was someone with a gun who threatned to shoot students somewhere at ISU. Police cars started swarming all of the buildings and school grounds and no one could get in or out anymore. Of course everyone was scared and wondered what exactly what was going on as everyone seemed to have another version of what was happening outside. The only thing I had on my mind, was that I was going to have to miss out on my birthday dinner as I was really looking forward to the food that was offered at the restaurant. After about an hour they communicated that the man with the gun had been apprehended. So my birthday plans were back on track.

We went out at about 7 o'clock and had a lovely dinner and then went for a few drinks at the bars Uptown.

All in all, I had a great 23rd birthday. Here's to another great year for Raymond Pourier.

Cheers!