Last month I celebrated my 30th Birthday. The other night as I was lying thoughtfully in bed looking at the window I contemplated this turning point. A decade has pasted for me.
My husband in good spirit tells me that “we have lived well”. But I can’t help recalling my memories of when my mom turned 30. I know, it’s strange, right?… that I would remember my mom’s 30th Birthday, but I do. I remember my dad buying her a bike as a surprise and all of us waiting for her to come home so we could surprise her. There is even a picture somewhere of that event.
The point is that I can actually remember my mom turning 30! My kids won’t remember me turning 30 because well, Pedro and I haven’t reached that point of our journey at 30. Boy, have times changed! Back in the day couples had children much younger. Today, women have the same opportunities as men to advance in their careers, to travel and be adventuress.
I have chosen the risky road that leads to uncertainty, challenges and lots of wonderful adventures and I been very lucky to find a man that love’s adventure too… and we have been married only two years. He is right, our lives individually and together have been full, not that it wouldn’t if we had children but it would be quite different… who knows if our paths would have crossed.
In honor of kissing my 20’s good-bye and welcoming what’s to come, I came up with my TOP 10 list of my 20’s.
1. Being the first from both my parents’ families to graduate from University. It wasn’t an easy experience especially when you consider the finances involved in going to Univ. in the U.S.! but I loved my university experience and the way it shaped me for the future.
2. My first “real” job led me to meet the glamour of Hollywood. Within my first week, I was asked to work the Oscar Party where I got to seat the stars and make sure that our sponsor clients were represented. I have never been much of a Hollywood fanatic but being in a room full of stars was quite overwhelming for a first week on the job. I later went on to work premieres on the other side of the carpet…. none-the-less it wasn’t for me…
3. Living in Athens, Greece for 2 years, what a wonderful introduction to Europe and the Mediterranean way of life. I traveled to many places such Turkey, Egypt, Italy, etc. and I learned how to live life and love food :) I have friends I will cherish for life and I will never forget the summer my sister and I traveled through the Greek islands.
4. While living in Athens, I had the opportunity to perform in the Closing Ceremonies of the Olympic Games in 2004, where I was immersed in all Greekness. It was such a great experience to be with Greeks as they celebrated the 2004 EuroCup Win and the Olympic Games. I also ran my first marathon in Athens, which also happens to be the original marathon route from Marathona to Athens.
5. Moved to Madrid, Spain in 2006, where I entered an International MBA program at IE business school. While my Greek years were some of my “dream paradise years”, my Spanish years were my “forever young years”. Life in Madrid is exciting and never-ending… My business program was intense and an experience of a lifetime, with classmates from around the world. I miss them and looking forward to one day catching up… they are everywhere and its quite nice to know you have friends around the world 
6. Pedro. I met Pedro in Madrid. He actually happened to be in my class and my first workgroup. We started dating towards the end of the program, we had no idea what the future would hold but we held on to each other. Being from different countries it wasn’t easy, but love prevailed and we got married! 3 times to be exact! One of my best gifts in life is being with Pedro
7. So people probably don’t put their honeymoon on their top 10 list, especially people that travel often, since honeymoons are about relaxation… but it’s on my list. Pedro and I have gotten to know Africa over the past 2 ½ years but visiting Tanzania was something else! It was like going to the real “paradise of the Garden of Eden”. The Ngorongoro Crater is one of the most spectacular things I have ever experienced. It was magical and I fell in love with Africa… the kind of feeling that hits you at your core.
8. Moved to Angola in 2008, in efforts to be together Pedro and I both moved to Luanda, Angola to work for a business consultancy firm. My experience in Angola has been challenging; learning a new language, working in a new field, new country, new culture, new marriage….. But rewarding :) I grew up in areas that usually take people a long time to grow up in… and I know how to live without the extras and even sometimes without the essentials.
9. At 29, my last year of my 20’s…. Pedro and I began the New Year 2010 on Mount Kilimanjaro. It was one of our dreams in moving to Africa to be able to experience Mt. Kili… Again it was a challenge that hit us physically, emotionally, spiritually but drew us together. At 5,895 metres (19,334 ft.) we celebrated a journey that was very symbolic to me.
10. And just days before turning 30, I witnessed the first World Cup in Africa! Pedro and I camped throughout South Africa, assisting some of the matches and just enjoying God’s beautiful nature and creations. For Pedro and I traveling to SA wasn’t something new, we felt very much like Africans ourselves since we live here but I got to know South Africans and Africa’s warm hospitality in a whole new way.
While my kids won’t ever remember my 30th Birthday, I sure do have a lot of stories to tell them about my 20′s and the wonderful life experiences I have been blessed with. So cheers to God, to life and living the dream!
