Bridge Year Costa Rica – Spring 2026

Feliz Cumpleaños A Mí

By Owen Z.

Ever since moving away to attend boarding school, I have grown to dread February 5th—my birthday. Being away from home reminded me that one of my favorite days was often dependent on my family. Waking up to singing and donuts, rather than a cold, irritating alarm, was a stark contrast. Slowly, year after year, I grew accustomed to the sadness of this day. I learned how to pretend, both to myself and to those around me, that I didn’t have a birthday. It was often easier this way.

Usually, my birthday came with a warning—the frigid, snowy air of northern Michigan. However, this year, the months passed by without reason. And like nothing, February reared its head into my life. I mentioned my birthday to my host family, who seemed to put it off, confused, as if they’d thought it was another day. My head hung low, and I prepared myself for another year of disappointment and the sad yet canny reminder that no one would make me feel as loved and cared about as I do with my family.

On the morning of, I woke up yet again to an alarm, although after four years, this was the norm. My family called to wish me a happy birthday, even though they were thousands of miles away—my heart full of a bittersweet joy. Upon getting dressed and heading to the kitchen for breakfast, my host family offered hugs and birthday wishes. After what felt like the formality of telling someone you know it’s their birthday, that you know it’s their birthday, I was on my way to work, catching the bus as always.

At my internship, things started to shape up; my coworkers surprised me with pizzas, and some of my friends came to visit. Feeling happier than usual, I began to see my birthday for what it truly was. I realized that it is okay if it does not live up to the memories of my childhood. I have changed, and so has my life. After all, it is just another day, and any small act of kindness from those around you should be met with appreciation.

I then went on to my Spanish class, which was my final obligation of the day. Taking me up to a lookout point high in the mountains, my teacher and I spoke a lot about birthday wishes, which, cleverly, used a grammatical concept we had been working on. It was very beautiful watching the sun fall low behind the mountains, and the night creep into the valley. My teacher then drove me home as the remnants of daylight faded—the trees growing harder to see. The day was nearly over, and I was already feeling a newfound sense of happiness on what would normally have been a sad day. 

When I arrived, my host mom said we were going to have a small family dinner and that it was almost ready. I went back to my room to change my clothes. Then all of a sudden, my host mom knocked on my door, telling me there was a huge bug outside that I needed to come see. This caught my interest, so I followed and was led to the door, which opened onto the back patio. As I opened it, unaware, I was showered with balloons and turned to see my host mom filming. It was all my closest friends, coworkers, and even my Spanish teacher, all in one place, celebrating my birthday. I was immediately filled with joy. We all laughed together about how they had been planning this for weeks and keeping it secret, so I wouldn’t have expected it.

For the rest of the night, we sang karaoke, danced to loud music, shared stories, and played many games. Of course, concluding with cake, which I happily cut with my newly “bedazzled” machete, something I had joked about since the beginning of the program, now a tangible object, gifted to me by caring friends. I happily cut the cake with it, my heart feeling full of love just like it used to when I was younger. I realized how many amazing connections I have made this year, all of whom I care very deeply about. These are people and memories I will cherish for the rest of my life. They are, but an extension of the family I have back home, and coming to this understanding was the greatest birthday present I could have ever asked for.