Tim will never forget the first birthday he was invited to in Moldova.

His friends celebrated their

son s birthday. He realised that birthdays in Moldova are different from birthdays in the us. In
the united states birthdays are full of family members and other kids, who play games and then
sing happy birthday to the child as he blows out his candles and makes a wish. Everyone
watches the child open his presents and make comments about them. In moldova it is more of
a celebration for the boy s parents, because after 2 hours all the kids go home and their parents
stay around the fire while delicious food is cooked. They sit at picnic tables and discuss about
their children, their work and life in general. After dinner they play fun party games. Tim
enjoyed that day because he met new people and it was a different party from any childs
birthday that he had been in the past.