Happy 2012! It’s pretty exciting to think that later this year I will be home. With the exception of a few quick trips to Thailand I spent all of 2011 in Cambodia, kind of hard to wrap my head around. To be honest, trying to reflect while in the midst of this experience is kind of overwhelming, sometimes I wonder when or if it will hit me. It was a year full of new experiences and even more reading. 2012 promises to be a good one, I have 24 vacation days to use up before May, the rest of wedding season, mango season, COS (close of service), a trip with Scott, my return to America and a very special wedding to look forward to.
Since I last wrote I’ve spent a bit of time in Phnom Penh, taking care of a lengthy to do list and then meeting up with other volunteers to ring in the New Year. In the time I was at site I ended up going to three weddings in three days, my new wedding shoes are surprisingly comfortable and it’s safe to say wedding season is in full swing.
One of the weddings I went to was in the provincial town, Battambang. The daughter of one of the higher up health directors was getting married and it was by far the largest and fanciest wedding I have been to here. The other was in a very rural area on a dirt road with rice paddies as far as the eye can see. I was surprised by how many people I knew from the health center and just being in the village for so long and have to say I had more fun than at the big wedding.
For New Years I was in Phnom Penh to meet up with other volunteers. New Year’s isn’t a big deal here because they celebrate in April so I knew I didn’t want to stay in the village. There was a large group in Phnom Penh and we ended up going on a river cruise in the early evening. The rest of the night was spend making our way down the riverfront eventually ending up at a casino on the other end that has a big screen with a countdown and fireworks. It was festive and fun to be around lots of people to bring in 2012.
- health volunteers from my training village
I made my way back to site and had today off of work so I spent the day doing laundry and cleaning up my room to start the New Year off on a clean foot.
Here’s hoping 2012 is a happy and healthy year for us all!
Xoxo,
B
You look great. I hope you are feeling well. Happy happy New Year. You start this year in the exotic wilds of Cambodia and will end the year in the exotic wilds of Arizona…Enjoy your amazing life.
xoxo,
Jim
I know it’s a few days early but, HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Thinking of you with so much love and can’t wait to hear more about your many adventures. We look forward to your posts and photos so keep ‘em coming! Hope you find ways to celebrate your day in style. Much love, Erica and Anna