A year in review

There are times in life that you need to stop, breathe and reflect. For me one of those times is now. 2013 has been a big year full of love, laughter, happiness with a little sadness thrown in for good measure. 

The year started off with a bang. Literally. Bringing in my 3rd new year in the island paradise of Vanuatu, I celebrated with friends and family watching the fireworks on the water. The multiple earth tremors and after shocks that came next gave the new year it's own version of the shake, rattle and roll.

Fast forward 4 months and it was time to say my final goodbyes to this beautiful place and my Vanuatu family. My team's farewell was so heart felt, amazingly planned and traditional there was not a dry eye in the house. They sang to me like angels and showered me with gifts - an experience that has forever changed me.

After 11 long years away, I suddenly found myself unemployed, 29 years old and living back with my parents. And let me tell you I LOVED it! Between the cooking lessons, the daily happy hour, being my father's coffee making slave (which would come in handy later on) and a surprise 14,000ft sky dive thrown in, I almost didn't want to leave. Those 4 weeks were the longest consecutive time my family had seen me since I first left home and it was awesome. But before I knew it my time was up, my bags were packed, I had stragtecially placed surprise notes around the house for my family to find and then I was in the car heading towards my new life.

I arrived in Vancouver at the end of spring, and the week long jet lag not withstanding, I was home. The scenery of this place is from another world. Before I knew it summer had arrived and life was all about sun, beach and drinks on the patio. No complaints here! A little thing called a job came back into my life and I was once again a tax payer. I challenged myself with a career change and what a journey it has been so far. Let me just say, I am a person who has never drunk coffee (and frankly doesn't like the taste) who now manages and runs a Starbucks store. Like I said, challenging.

Summer then turned into fall (aka Autumm) and I was officially in love with the city. I was obsessed with the burnt colored leaves and the image of them in and around the city. It was something from the movies. Throw in a Halloween party and Thanksgiving dinner to round out the season and I was a happy camper. With the cooler weather, shorter days and increased cloud cover, Autumm was giving way to winter and that's when the real fun started.

I was finally going to experience my first northern hemisphere, Canadian winter. After putting fake snow around our lounge room at the start of the holiday season, I was blessed with the real deal a week before Christmas. Just amazing! However, one of the many things you don't learn while living in the tropics is how to drive in the snow. This country girl had to learn fast and I now just chalk it up to another life skill.

Christmas Day came and went almost as fast as the rum & eggnogs were being poured. Feeling my first bout of home sickness, I spent the day with friends huddled around the fire place and skyped family far away who were enjoying the sun, beach & time on the water.  

2013 has been a year of happiness, risk taking, courage, bravery, strength, faith, sadness, joy, love and most of all adventure. I am blessed to have so many wonderful people in my life. 2014 will only be bigger and better. Visitors will start to arrive, friends will be welcomed and farewelled and I will celebrate the dirty 30! And of course there will be more world adventures for this country girl.

 

In the words of Susan Sontag, 'I haven't been everywhere, but it's on my list.'

Happy New Year everyone!