Warren, Cape Town, South Africa

“At my 30s, I now have the choice and the ability to influence the next days. I am able to make my own decisions.”

Name : Warren Minnie

Gender :  Male

DoB :  17.07.1984

City of Birth : Cape Town, South Africa

Status :  Single

Family :  1 Sister (26yo)

Hometown :  Cape Town, South Africa

Education : Plumbing and Construction

Job :  Entrepreneur – Plumber and blacksmith

Religion : –

Politics :  –

As a child… How would you picture yourself at 30?

JOB – How did you decide to do this job? When I was a kid, I was thinking about playing hockey for South Africa, as a professional player. When I left school around 16, I went away and I spent 4 years doing nothing and 1 year studying music engineering – but it did not go like expected… At this time, my parents told me « this is your chance to do something of your life ». They advised me to go towards plumbing and were willing to pay for the studies as long as I was able to complete the 2 years studies. I started working in plumbing area around my 23. I had to do something with my life (sighs).

South Africa is a really difficult city to live in because the political situation makes it hard to find a job, to get access to education and to have a decent purchasing power.

HOME / PLACE OF LIVING – Where you thought we would be living by now? If I had to think about it, I would have liked to be out of this country (south africa) around 18. I always have wanted to travel. And South Africa is a really difficult city to live in because the political situation makes it hard to find a job, to get access to education and to have a decent purchasing power. Life is so expensive that it is difficult to pay for a car with a medium wage. I was thinking I would have left the country after my trip but I came back for a thousand of reasons. Smiles

Warren has two jobs, plumber and he also is an entrepreneur as a blacksmith.

Warren usually takes his scooter to get around in Cape Town.

Striking and memorable events…

IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE – What are the most memorable event of your personal life? When I was 25, I walked for 4 days to the Transkei on my own without money, only my backpack… It was like a real adventure! It was total independence, just going from village to village asking people to host and feed me. I was completely lost!

IN THE WORLD – What are the main events that stroke the world you are living in? I can’t think of anything that happened in the world that affected me personally. Apartheid was not an issue because I did not really lived, I was too young to get affected.

BEST MEMORY – What is your best memory? I have a lot of good ones, I would say skydiving in Table Mountain in Cape Town or surfing in Mozambique, paddling into the best waves ever. Those are activities that scare me but they end by being thrilling experiences that make my breath away.

GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT – I am proud to be healthy! I am not a drug addict (smiles). I’m proud to afford to have a roof over my head. Not to be an idiot and that I have succeeded in my studies.

Looking back / Reviewing expectations

10 YEARS AGO, I didn’t think I would have been travelling a lot. I might have been projected myself as a well-established man, with a house, a car and a good job. At that age, I did not really think about it. When I was 20, I did not even know how I would be at 21.

TODAY, I am pretty happy with my life.

Warren having a typical South African Braai barbecue in his terrace with his flatmates.

Warren shares this pretty little house located in the Observatory district of Cape Town with 4 other flatmates.

30 years old, a turning point?

WHAT’S NEW? – Did you notice some changes since you are 30 YO? I think responsibilities have grown up and opportunities have opened up – for example, I am now able to travel overseas. At 30, you know what you can and what you can’t do – when I go out to party all night, I know that the next days will be difficult. These days are more about being mature, a bit more serious but a lot more exciting as well because I now have the choice and the ability to influence the next days. I am able to make my own decisions.

When I want to play the « innocent card »… I can’t because I know how it is supposed to be.

OLD OR YOUNG? – Do you feel « old » or « still young »? I feel surprisingly old … or just older than younger people. When you go out, at a concert, everyone is still full of energy, when I think of my bed. I also consider that I am older mentally speaking – this is the silver lining of it because it means being more mature. On the other hand, the bad side is when I want to play the « innocent card »… I can’t because I know how it is supposed to be.

CHANGES OR REGRETS? What are the things you would like to change? I should have finished my studies before travelling because I would have been able to work and get a good salary while travelling. I should have done it the opposite way I did.

My Values

My Typical day

And tomorrow?

YOUR STORY IN 10 YEARS – What is the story you want to tell within 10 years? In 10 years, I will probably be doing the same job but self-employed. Even if I do think that in 25 years from now, I will be employed again (needing less responsibilities).  I also hope I will have found the girl, and have time to get to know her. I wish I had travelled more.

THE WORLD IN 10 YEARS – How do you imagine the world you will be living in within 10 years? In South Africa, it will be extremely difficult to look after oneself and to find a job. It will be harder and harder to live decently in this country. The reason is that more and more people from other Africans countries will come to South Africa in order to get a job.In the world, I think people will struggle in the future to keep what they own. In terms of social life, I see a brighter future because freedom and development will arise.

Fears and Dreams…

FEARS – What are you afraid of? I am afraid of getting stuck, being alone and not going anywhere, not knowing anyone…

ACHIEVEMENTS – What are the things you want to achieve? I want to climb the Mont Everest, discover and travel around the world. But I don’t know if it will happen. I would also like to snowboard again. And the one thing I want to achieve is to have a successful business for at least 2 years.

DREAMS – What is your craziest dreams? I want to be able to fly!

More pictures…