The Big 3-Oh!

It was 8am Saturday morning, Anna and I were sitting in the back of the pickup truck, Francesca and Rusty were riding in the coveted cab. We had just set off for a weekend at Senga Bay. Anna turns to me, the wind blowing her hair into a tangled mass, “Was this how you expected to spend your 30th birthday?” Here I was, ass bouncing on the hard bed of the truck, our hair completely windswept, knapsacks at our feet, driving down a dirt road somewhere in the middle of Africa. No, I didn’t expect to spend my 30th like this, but with that said, I honestly had no idea how I expected to spend this or any of my other birthdays for that matter.

I feel like I have lived the last decade as a transient, a proverbial jew lost in the desert. I think I know what I want but not quite sure where that end destination is. The longest plan I’ve had for the future was one year; most of my plans were for 6 months. Looking back at the last ten years, would I change anything? Maybe one or two things, but definitely none of my travels. I am so glad that I have been in every town and every country that I have set foot on. My transient nature doesn’t bother me in the least. Sure perhaps in the future I’d like to do the normal grown up things like buy a house, car, maybe start a family, but I feel happy experiencing the world. All through my childhood I have been fascinated with maps and books and different cultures (besides marine biology), now that I have seized the moment to actually go out and see and do it all I am so happy. There have been so many moments – all so beautiful, precious, scary, hilarious, unforgettable and amazing. It’s been one hell of a way to eek out a living, but I’m loving it.

The truck stopped at Senga Bay, we hopped out and made a beeline for the beach. I laid my chitenje over the sand and gazed out over the water. Although I was far from the ocean, the lake seemed so vast, with waves lapping the shore, you could almost fool yourself into thinking it was the ocean. The sunshine was hot, the water was cool and refreshing. I dropped my towel and dove into the lake. It was a perfect moment.
Later that night the four of us were sitting at the bar, looking out at the waters of Lake Malawi and sipping wine. Anna hands me a birthday gift. I was really touched. I hadn’t expected to receive anything material for my birthday this year. It was a home made card written on elephant dung paper, a Lilongwe Ultimate Club t-shirt and a princess tiara that I had to wear for the rest of the night. What a great present! I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my 30th birthday.