Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Belated Birthday

So, last Thursday was my birthday. My thirtieth birthday. I am now no longer twenty-something.

It was very strange to celebrate it so far away from home, away from friends and family, but having my girlfriend here to share it with made it all OK.

On the actual day I worked late, finishing a story in the SKYY Newsroom, came home to a candlelit dinner of chickpea salad and a beer and went to bed. Kind of anti-climactic for such a big occasion in one's life, but spending my special day working for JHR on a news story in Ghana is a climax of sorts. Many years of working towards, and dreaming of, this kind of job has led me to be here and now, doing what I love to do.

I had a party the next day, under the guise of a welcome party for my girlfriend. A great turnout of people from SKYY and the neighbourhood came out for drinks, food, music and dancing in the courtyard. I had a great time and feel even closer to my people in Takoradi.

My whole JHR experience in Ghana has been a true pleasure. Doing social justice work and being able to travel the world are the two things I would ask for if I were to ask for a thirtieth birthday present.

So, thank you to JHR, to SKYY, to my colleagues, to Ghana, to my neighbors, to my girlfriend, to my friends and family for making this birthday the best one I've celebrated yet.

I can't wait to have a beer, and chicken tikka masala with naan at Lahore Tikka House, and burritos with fried plantain with guacamole at Tacos el Asador, and a latte at iDeal in the market, and a channa roti at Gandhi Cuisine, and a pizza from Amato's, and a hamburger from that place on Queen East, and maybe even a steak at Barbarian's, to celebrate with everyone back home.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's actually 'Barberian's', and I hear it is pretty expensive.

When do you come back?

Anonymous said...

and oh yeah...happy birthday!

Anonymous said...

I look forward to taking you to every one of those places. Hurry back, the food is getting cold!

Kevin Hill said...

I'm now planning my post-JHR travels with my JHR friend Jessie. Looks like maybe 6 more weeks of backpacking from here to Timbuktu (literally). Then off to Zanzibar, the Serengeti, the Kigali Film Festival and some Malawi with a two day stop over in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Trying to work in a stop over in London to hang out with my friend Daniela for a little while.

Maybe mid April?

I hope you're keeping a big place in your fridge for me and the food, Anil!

Anonymous said...

Wow, you're not back until mid-april? I may get married before then. Just saying, hurry up.

Say hi to dar-es-salam for me, if you get to go.

Kevin Hill said...

My highly energetic travel agent / travel partner has dislocated her shoulder in a shower related accident. Looks like I'm on my own, so I may shorten the planned trip and just go to Timbuktu before returning... so maybe mid to late March now...