Sindani Langanani Mollel, Tanzania:
"Even if life is quite tough, I wouldn't change anything. We have the basics: a home and water," said Mollel, 32. A mother-of-five from Emairete, a Maasai village in rural Tanzania, Mollel got married at the age of 13 and says she now feels quite old.
"It was very impressive to see how happy she looked despite all the problems she had in her life," photographer Domingues said.
"Even if life is quite tough, I wouldn't change anything. We have the basics: a home and water," said Mollel, 32. A mother-of-five from Emairete, a Maasai village in rural Tanzania, Mollel got married at the age of 13 and says she now feels quite old.
"It was very impressive to see how happy she looked despite all the problems she had in her life," photographer Domingues said.
Jibiek Ryskulova, Kyrgyzstan:
This 29-year-old lawyer had to take on a lot of responsibility early on in life. When she was 21, her son was born with Down syndrome. Turning 30 means a lot to the young, divorced mother. "I thought that at the age of 30, I would have three children and I would be a dedicated housewife. I cannot say things went as planned," Ryskulova said.
"One thing is for sure, I truly want next year to be special and I hope that I will give birth to another child, even if I do not find another man with who I can start a family."
"She is one of the strongest women I have ever met," Domingues said.
This 29-year-old lawyer had to take on a lot of responsibility early on in life. When she was 21, her son was born with Down syndrome. Turning 30 means a lot to the young, divorced mother. "I thought that at the age of 30, I would have three children and I would be a dedicated housewife. I cannot say things went as planned," Ryskulova said.
"One thing is for sure, I truly want next year to be special and I hope that I will give birth to another child, even if I do not find another man with who I can start a family."
"She is one of the strongest women I have ever met," Domingues said.
Warren Minnie, South Africa:
Minnie spent his early twenties traveling before learning how to become a plumber. At 25, he walked to the Transkei area in South Africa with no money and only a backpack, going from village to village asking for food and shelter. He now has two jobs and dreams about being able to fly like a bird.
"In my thirties, I now have the choice and the ability to influence the next days. I am able to make my own decisions," Minnie said.
Minnie spent his early twenties traveling before learning how to become a plumber. At 25, he walked to the Transkei area in South Africa with no money and only a backpack, going from village to village asking for food and shelter. He now has two jobs and dreams about being able to fly like a bird.
"In my thirties, I now have the choice and the ability to influence the next days. I am able to make my own decisions," Minnie said.
Win Swe, Myanmar:
Gestures, eye contact and a little help from a translator helped Domingues cross the language barrier with Win Swe, 35, who lives in rural Myanmar. "I shared a lot with her and her family," said Domingues.
Swe had to leave school after third grade, but even after having three children, the farmer still feels young. "I think age is a mind set and one only feels old if one wants." She adds that her biggest dream is to travel abroad at least once.
Gestures, eye contact and a little help from a translator helped Domingues cross the language barrier with Win Swe, 35, who lives in rural Myanmar. "I shared a lot with her and her family," said Domingues.
Swe had to leave school after third grade, but even after having three children, the farmer still feels young. "I think age is a mind set and one only feels old if one wants." She adds that her biggest dream is to travel abroad at least once.
Satoshi Gotsubo, Japan:
"I used to move on the surface of my life but I feel I am going deeper now," says Gotsubo, a 30-year-old massage therapist from Hiroshima. When he was younger, he dreamed about becoming a comic artist or a fisherman. Domingues met him in his new home in Kyoto. "We had a lot in common: art, cuisine, curiosity for everything that is around us," the photographer said.
"I used to move on the surface of my life but I feel I am going deeper now," says Gotsubo, a 30-year-old massage therapist from Hiroshima. When he was younger, he dreamed about becoming a comic artist or a fisherman. Domingues met him in his new home in Kyoto. "We had a lot in common: art, cuisine, curiosity for everything that is around us," the photographer said.
Diana Viraj, Australia:
Slovakian-born Australian Diana Viraj, 33, felt turning 30 had made her reach a crossroad. 'At 30, I feel liberated from a lot of preconceived ideas," she told Domingues. "And I guess I just let go of the traditional family values I was raised with. My grandparents still want a great child and they want to come to my wedding. But I made them understand that I was a bit different."
Slovakian-born Australian Diana Viraj, 33, felt turning 30 had made her reach a crossroad. 'At 30, I feel liberated from a lot of preconceived ideas," she told Domingues. "And I guess I just let go of the traditional family values I was raised with. My grandparents still want a great child and they want to come to my wedding. But I made them understand that I was a bit different."
Maceo Paisley, United States:
Domingues and this 30-year-old entrepreneur from Los Angeles connected through Instagram. Feeling like he had to give back to his country, Paisley joined the U.S. Army after 9/11. After serving in Iraq, he decided to change careers and move into art.
"They say that in your thirties, you settle in your identity. I feel like that is very much the truth," Paisley said. He writes letters to himself every eight years to help him refocus on becoming the person he wants to be.
Domingues and this 30-year-old entrepreneur from Los Angeles connected through Instagram. Feeling like he had to give back to his country, Paisley joined the U.S. Army after 9/11. After serving in Iraq, he decided to change careers and move into art.
"They say that in your thirties, you settle in your identity. I feel like that is very much the truth," Paisley said. He writes letters to himself every eight years to help him refocus on becoming the person he wants to be.
Prerana Deora, India:
"I am proud that my mother-in-law thinks that I am a good daughter-in-law", said the 32-year-old housewife from Jaipur, India, whose marriage was arranged by her parents. Passing the milestone birthday didn't mean much to her as she didn't have a plan for her twenties or thirties, she said. But Deora still feels young. "I really don't think that at 30, somebody can feel old!"
Domingues met Deora through her husband and spent days getting to know the family. "Prerana is such an interesting and smart woman," he said. "So kind and dedicated and even if our cultures and traditions are so far from each other, we enjoyed the time we spent together."
"I am proud that my mother-in-law thinks that I am a good daughter-in-law", said the 32-year-old housewife from Jaipur, India, whose marriage was arranged by her parents. Passing the milestone birthday didn't mean much to her as she didn't have a plan for her twenties or thirties, she said. But Deora still feels young. "I really don't think that at 30, somebody can feel old!"
Domingues met Deora through her husband and spent days getting to know the family. "Prerana is such an interesting and smart woman," he said. "So kind and dedicated and even if our cultures and traditions are so far from each other, we enjoyed the time we spent together."
Oscar Villarroel Ibarra, Bolivia:
Ibarra is a mine worker from Potosi, a mining village in Bolivia. Turning 30 did not change much as he had to take on a lot of responsibility at an early age, he said. After his father's death, Ibarra had to abandon his dreams and start working in the dangerous mining industry in order to provide for his family. He dreams about becoming a driver. "I still work at the mine because I was not able to get enough money to buy a car in order to change jobs. They money I made was enough for food and clothes, but not more," he said.
"I really wanted to interview a miner and I waited for them to come out of the mine at the end of the day," said Dominguez. "I met Oscar who unlike, most of the miners, understood the purpose of the project. Oscar has been through a lot. He is a very strong man."
Ibarra is a mine worker from Potosi, a mining village in Bolivia. Turning 30 did not change much as he had to take on a lot of responsibility at an early age, he said. After his father's death, Ibarra had to abandon his dreams and start working in the dangerous mining industry in order to provide for his family. He dreams about becoming a driver. "I still work at the mine because I was not able to get enough money to buy a car in order to change jobs. They money I made was enough for food and clothes, but not more," he said.
"I really wanted to interview a miner and I waited for them to come out of the mine at the end of the day," said Dominguez. "I met Oscar who unlike, most of the miners, understood the purpose of the project. Oscar has been through a lot. He is a very strong man."
Janice Mendes de Querrez, Brazil:
Ten years ago, marketing consultant Mendes de Querrez, 31, thought she would be married with kids by the age of 25 and be on top of her career. Today, she says she feels younger than ever. "Being 30 is about everything new: new city, new projects and new moments in life", she said. She dreams about being on the cover of a magazine as business woman of the year and hopes to write a book.
Ten years ago, marketing consultant Mendes de Querrez, 31, thought she would be married with kids by the age of 25 and be on top of her career. Today, she says she feels younger than ever. "Being 30 is about everything new: new city, new projects and new moments in life", she said. She dreams about being on the cover of a magazine as business woman of the year and hopes to write a book.
Zoltan Varga, Hungary:
In my mind, I haven't aged since my twenties", said Zoltan Varga, 33. The Hungarian went from wanting to be a marine biologist studying sharks to working in IT in his mid-twenties. That might not be the last career change for him, he tells Domingues, as he also hopes to work for NASA's extraterrestrial department one day. "I wish we could find life somewhere else than on our earth."
In my mind, I haven't aged since my twenties", said Zoltan Varga, 33. The Hungarian went from wanting to be a marine biologist studying sharks to working in IT in his mid-twenties. That might not be the last career change for him, he tells Domingues, as he also hopes to work for NASA's extraterrestrial department one day. "I wish we could find life somewhere else than on our earth."
Beweket Ayalew, Ethopia:
"I never give up, whatever my age is," said Ayalew, 31, a tenth grade student from Lalibela in the north of the country. Having lost his parents, he had to give up school and become a shepherd. He is now trying to complete his education. "Beweket is a very strong man who decided to go back to study after 10 years," said Domingues.
Ayalew said he was proud of being of educated. "That's not the easy part I took, because I also need to have side jobs such as shoe cleaner and carpenter while studying."
"I never give up, whatever my age is," said Ayalew, 31, a tenth grade student from Lalibela in the north of the country. Having lost his parents, he had to give up school and become a shepherd. He is now trying to complete his education. "Beweket is a very strong man who decided to go back to study after 10 years," said Domingues.
Ayalew said he was proud of being of educated. "That's not the easy part I took, because I also need to have side jobs such as shoe cleaner and carpenter while studying."
Stefanie Grassley, United States:
Stephanie Grassley was the first person Domingues interviewed. Seven years ago, the 33-year-old Mormon from Utah bought a one-way ticket to New York City. "I only wanted to get out. I always dreamed of being a sophisticated woman in NYC movies and series such as 'Friends' and 'Sex and the City'," she said.
Stephanie managed to realize her dream of becoming a model. She feels good about her age, she told Domingues. "The older I get, the freer I become. I don't really care about being 30, I am confident enough to just not care."
Stephanie Grassley was the first person Domingues interviewed. Seven years ago, the 33-year-old Mormon from Utah bought a one-way ticket to New York City. "I only wanted to get out. I always dreamed of being a sophisticated woman in NYC movies and series such as 'Friends' and 'Sex and the City'," she said.
Stephanie managed to realize her dream of becoming a model. She feels good about her age, she told Domingues. "The older I get, the freer I become. I don't really care about being 30, I am confident enough to just not care."
Kornnatt Surapat, Thailand:
"Kornnatt helped me find my path", Domingues said about the 35-year-old former monk and yoga teacher from Bangkok who wants to live to the age of 120. "At 30, I feel like I am trying to find the right balance in my life," he said. "Thirty is a big number. Moving to adulthood, I needed a big change. I decided to become vegetarian."
"Kornnatt helped me find my path", Domingues said about the 35-year-old former monk and yoga teacher from Bangkok who wants to live to the age of 120. "At 30, I feel like I am trying to find the right balance in my life," he said. "Thirty is a big number. Moving to adulthood, I needed a big change. I decided to become vegetarian."
