On turning 30

So now it’s official: I’ve left the decade of the twenties and entered the ripe age of the thirties. And actually, it isn’t anywhere near as bad as you imagine when you’re 18 - quite the contrary.

Yes, I do admit to feeling a slight twinge of nostalgia for the “young years” - but that is only when I think about the social construct of the number beginning with a 2 or a 3. Really, being “young” is nowhere a guarantee, or even an indication, of being happy. Let’s face it: just the thought of returning to my high school years makes me shudder (eeek!!).

Without a doubt, my last decade was great, colourful and eventful. I had absolutely fantastic university years, I could try doing different things and living in different countries, I learned a lot, met incredible people, and had a lot of good time.

Yet now, as I'm leaving the 20s behind, I feel slightly more balanced, with slightly more answers (or at least defined questions), and with a clearer direction in my life than ever before – and it’s a direction I like. In fact, my life seems fairly close to “perfect” right now, and I’m feeling very fortunate when I think about it!

Because (without any particular order and not in an order of importance): I have a job that I very much enjoy, and I managed to achieve this (at least for the moment) after a long time of trying, not giving up and stubbornly fighting for it. I’m in harmony with what I’m doing, what I think is right and what is important for me. I have a great man in my life. I have friends I love dearly, and who remain even if I’m far away for long. I have the opportunity to learn, grow, experience new things, explore new worlds, and move forward, both personally and professionally. Oh, and for the first time ever, I have long hair, which is also very exciting! :-)

And if you think that turning 30 in the middle of the Karamojong nowhere was a sad and lonely business – it wasn’t!

Javi and our friend Oscar fought their way through the mud and the rain from Kampala up to Kaabong to visit me, and made my birthday last for three full days! Apart from themselves, they also brought me a landcruiser full of supplies, including the best Kampala cheesecake (which is truly very good) and a full gas cylinder, so that after four weeks I could finally have a plate of pasta. Even the weather was cooperative, and we could sit on the Kaabong rocks and watch the sun setting down.

There was no chance of dwelling on gloomy thoughts on my turning-30-day: I spent it running up and down in the field, shaking hands with Karamojongs, counting mango tree seedlings and jerrycans, watching people dig holes, driving through an incredible scenery, and emerged at the end of the day, completely covered in a thick layer of dust and very satisfied, to have a cold beer and rice-and-beans in a lovely company. What more could I ask for?


So really, why should I be worried because I turned 30? Just the opposite - I look forward to what the next decade brings!