Birthday So Far: Really Great!

I have had such a great birthday, and it's only a little after lunch. Tony and Heidi called me together this morning, so it was a wonderful way to start my workday. Boy, it was good to hear from them! Dad called this morning when I was walking to work, and he was the very first family member to wish me happy birthday today. Mom called me on Skype, and we got to talk for about 20 minutes, which was just great.

Work also couldn't have gone any better. My first deliverable for this internship was a research compilation about marketing and customer service for financial organizations in developing countries. Unless you're a nerd like me, that may not sound too interesting, but I really enjoyed doing the research and figuring out how to summarize the findings in a clear way. It's hard to find the balance between too much and not enough information. So I included the original links and even saved some of the more useful documents on the server so that people who wanted more information could easily find it. Well, this morning I gave a PowerPoint presentation about the research compilation: summarizing the main concepts and best findings and making some connections to this microfinance program. The presentation was so well received! I was pumped. People made notes and talked afterwards about how they might implemet some of the concepts, and I was just so pleased. They also really liked the format and organization of the PowerPoint itself and asked for a copy on the server. Also, just before my presentation, the CEO gave me a big bouquet of flowers for my birthday from the organization. I felt like a beauty queen. It was great.

At lunch dad came up and ate with me and with several of my coworkers in the back room where everyone meets if they bring their lunch. Dad and I ate the leftovers from the veggies I sauteed yesterday, and they were much more delicious today after they'd had time for the flavors to meld. Everyone puts their food in the middle of the table and then serves themselves onto small plates or napkins. So everyone took a taste of the veggies, and Stas said they taste like Turkish food. I'm assuming that's good. :) Stas and dad really seem to get along, and Stas even told dad a joke: the best way to connect w/ dad! It was such a fun lunch; the people I work with are so friendly and sweet, and dad really likes to spend time with my friends here, too.

Speaking of my coworkers' thoughtfulness, several people have emailed me sweet, thoughtful messages and cute pictures. Here are some quotes and pics below:

Hi, happy birthday to you! Many happy returns today and may they stay with you for all your lifetime!
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Dear Rebecca! Happy Birthday! We wish you strong health, good luck, and professional success! Be happy!
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DEAR,REBECCA!!! We would like to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!We wish you happiness in your personal life, success at work place,health to you and your family and realization of YOUR plans, goals, bluedreams.Your parents are very lucky to have such daughter like YOU (smart,sincere, honest, friendly, VERY HELPFUL and diplomatic....).HAPPY BIRTHDAY REBECCA!!!

This afternoon I'll go get a couple of local cakes to share with everyone for my birthday, and then a group of us will go swimming at that nice pool right after work. After that, I really want to have Indian food, but I only know of 2 Indian restaurants in Bishkek, and one is closed for remodeling, and one appears to have been replaced, gone out of business. :( So at the moment, I'm not sure what's for dinner, but it'll be good, whatever it is. I would be very happy with an inexpensive meal at Jalalabad (my favorite local restaurant) and dessert and drinks at Navigator (a more expensive place frequented by ex-pats). We'll see. I think dad will do whatever I want. I'm the birthday girl afterall. :) I'll take good pics and post them tomorrow. Love you guys!