Reaching the third floor

Last week I turned 30. It's funny to think about how much that number used to scare me. When I was younger, being 30 just sounded so... old. There were so many things I thought I needed to do before reaching the dreaded "third floor." Now that the benchmark has come and gone, I realize that while I didn't quite live up to all of the plans I made for myself when I was younger, I certainly have a lot to be proud of. What I failed to see when I was younger is that life doesn't always work out the way we want to because it isn't supposed to. Life has a sense of humor and you need to learn to laugh when things don't go your way.

My birthday reminded me of the many steps (and missteps) I've taken along the way. It reminded me of the many friends I have that have accompanied me along the way. It reminded me of the many adventures that I've had and compelled me to look ahead at the many adventures still left to be had. In my "short" 30 years I have met incredible people, seen amazing things and learned about myself and the world around me.

The day itself started out rainy, very rainy in fact. It was as if the world had conspired to evoke from me a feeling a loss. Undeterred, I dawned my rain jacket and headed out the door. After getting soaked, I reached the subway station. Off to Hong Kong. The trip was uneventful, the border was full of others who like me where also escaping Shenzhen (or so I'd like to think). I arrived in Hong Kong eager to greet an old friend. This friend had flown in so that I would not have to spend my big birthday alone, I will forever be grateful to him for that. And so we did what any sensible person would do on their birthday in a rainy HK, we went shopping. After my shopping extravaganza (I had a dress made), I met up with another friend for dinner. It was supposed to be a restaurant with a spectacular view of the city, sadly the clouds had another plan. Fortunately while the food was not that exciting, the company was great and my birthday dinner was spent laughing and drinking good wine.

The next day, I arrived in the office to find a huge bouquet of roses on my desk. How nice, I thought, I wonder who they are from. Well turns out I am one lucky girl who has amazing friends, because they were from another dear friend who lives in Germany! What a treat and a lovely surprise. The week ended with a free bottle of bubbly at my "local bar" surrounded by my new Shenzhen friends (all of who, as luck would have it, speak Spanish!). All in all, I have to say that while this birthday did not include a big bash, it was probably one of the most celebrated birthdays I have ever had. I can't thank the people who made it memorable enough. All the phone calls, text messages, facebook posts (which I could actually access easily while in HK) and well wishes reminded me that even though I am very far away from the people I love, you are all still very much a part of my life. Thank you for being the amazing people that you are.

In the end, I have to admit the view from the third floor looks pretty good!