Cumpleanos Feliz

Today was my birthday and I celebrated with people I have known for approximately three days. My mom (my American mom) was very concerned that I wouldn't celebrate my birthday in Ecuador. Before I left los EE.UU, I told my mom that people in Ecuador don't celebrate birthdays, because no one is born in Ecuador. They import people once they turn a certain age (duh). But for some reason I don't think she bought it. But evidently they do celebrate cumpleanos feliz en Ecuador. My Spanish class sang "Happy Birthday" in Spanish to me and my teacher said that the Ecuadorean celebration of birthdays includes spankings with a whip. I told him, "Um, no gracias." But I had a pretty good day overall. I got moved into a more advanced Spanish class (look at me getting all good at Spanish!), ate a piece of tres leches cake that had a ? candle on top, ate a delicious dinner, bought  myself a birthday present (oreos for $5) at the SuperMaxi, and drank two margaritas at a local bar. Alcohol + high altitude = you only need 1.5 drinks. All in all, I'd say it was a good day.