Birthday in Okinawa

Ok, this is the first time I have ever done anything like this.... so if I mess it up... sorry!!! I know it's a bit late in the game to be starting a blog, but I feel that the next six months are going to be filled with wonderful memories of Okinawa. So let's start keeping a journal of them!!!
I have already had soooo many wonderful experiences here on my own. Teaching myself Japanese has given me the opportunity to make friends and learn about the culture of Okinawa in a way that I would have otherwise never experienced. Two weeks ago was my 24th Birthday and I was kind of nervous about it because I didn't have any family around. However, it turns out that I have been adopted by my friend Hisano-san's family. Well, at least, that's what they told me. They are wonderful. I am the first American they have ever had in their home.... whoooaaa!!---Pressure! This is a birthday I'll never forget.
Saturday night (May 13), my friends and I celebrated my birthday at my favorite izakaya-Tsubohachi. An izakaya is a restaurant that is only open at night... or, I should actually say "overnight". Most of the food is just appetizers so that you can try a little bit of everything. My friend Chika-san brought a cake with my name written in Hiragana! I was given a photo box, so when I leave here next year I'll have memories to bring with me.
The next day I was invited by Hisano-san's family to eat lunch at SunMarina Hotel. This is the hotel where Hisano-san sings every Wednesday and Saturday. The lunch was delicious --I tried crab for the first time-- and.. I got to meet her Aunts, Uncles and cousins. After lunch Hisano-san gave me a giant bag. I was nervous because I knew everyone was looking at me. ahhhh! I'm sure my face turned 12 shades of red. I couldn't tell at first what the gift was because it was wrapped so neatly (as most Japanese gifts are)...actually, I thought it was a blanket. Hisano-san asked me if I knew what it was ... so, I told the the truth... in Japanese of course. chinpun kanpun ("I have no clue").. I find myself using this phrase often. haha! Anyway, she told me that it was a Yukata!!! A Yukata is the Japanese summer-style Kimono. It was interesting to get this awesome gift on Sunday because Saturday night I had expressed to my friends that I was interested in buying a Yukata this summer. They kind of just laughed at me... and now I know why! Apparently, Hisano-san and Shota-san (Dave's best bud) went shopping for it on Friday. They did a great job picking it out too... it's exactly like one I would pick out myself. They were glad to hear that I wanted one after they had already bought it. Sooooo... after lunch we headed back to Hisano-san's family's house in Yomitan (this is their weekend home). They had a cake for me and sang 'Happy Birthday'. After cake, they wanted to dress me up to "make sure the Yukata fits". Her aunt did most of the work, as Hisano-san doesn't own her own Yukata and had no idea of how to put it on. Well, now she knows! It was a learning experience for both of us! It took about a half hour to get everything into place. This is without having my hair put up... I'm sure that takes another hour. Hisano-san plans to buy her own Yukata in July and then in late August she wants us and our friend Chika-san to wear our Yukatas to the famous "Orion Beer Festival". We'll probably be the only people dressed up, but I think it will be a blast!! I am very excited!! That will be in late August or September and I'm positive that I will post something about the festival. So, stay-tuned!!