Birthday Party

We have become close friends with Celine and her kids. When we moved into our place we 'inherited' Celine as our katulong (helper) because she was working for the missionary family who was living in our house before us. I can't say enough wonderful things about Celine as I have gotten to know her.

Her daughter MaiMai was celebrating her 10th birthday and wanted Kayla to come to her house for a birthday party. We knew Celine and her family lived very simply in a squatter area and because Celine's the bread winner in the family, she has shared with me the many challenges she faces everyday in providing for her family. She's a strong woman with a heart of gold.

We were honored to have been invited to their home and the hospitality we received was tremendous. I guess word got around the neighborhood that "foreigners" were coming to visit someone who was having a birthday party so all these uninvited kids from around their little village came to MaiMai's party. Later, Celine told me that the majority of the kids who showed up she had never seen before. Good thing she made lots of food.

JanJan, MaiMai's brother told all his friends "his English speaking friend" was coming to visit him and so all these kids were waiting for this friend to show up. Kayla was somewhat of a celebrity as all the kids were always around her touching her and staring at her as if she was some sort of unusual spectacle. I guess in a way she was. Not too many see a fair-skinned, English speaking, glasses wearing, Japanese girl in those parts. Poor kid, by the end of the evening you could tell she was getting a little bit tired of all the kids around her.

We all had a great time just hanging out, watching Shrek, eating food and cake.