Time Flies!

Hello Dear Reader,

Earlier this week, I found myself staring at a calendar, trying to plan my (almost) annual pilgrimage to the US. November 12th was the date. Something about it stuck out. Hmm...November 12... Someone's birthday? Not a holiday. A meeting I've scheduled, perhaps? Tax day? No. Maybe it's time for my dog's annual vaccination. Nope, not that either. Why is this date so meaningful? I mean, the only thing about November that stands out is Thanksgiving, and admittedly, I haven't celebrated that holiday in years (#choosesnottorememberthefood&familyI'mmissing). Wait, wait...is it my parents' anniversary? No...that's not it...but it's definitely an anniversary!

Ahh...yes! November 12th most certainly is a special day...an anniversary day! The day marks 3 years of working in/service to the Kingdom of Lesotho! Wow...I can't believe it! Time surely flies! Three years ago, I never thought that I would still be in the same country, with the same organization. Three years ago, I did not begin to imagine all of the experiences (the good with 'bad') that I'd go through to bring me to this day! If you don't mind, I'd like to take you on a walk down memory lane:

* Almost 4 months to the day that I closed my service as a Peace Corps Volunteer, I was on a plane headed to the Kingdom of Lesotho, to start my life as a (paid) public health professional.

* Many evenings meeting up with friends for dinner, drinks, movies, silly/deep/meaningful conversations.

* Lifelong friendships made.

* Many trips to visit my friends/family living in Rustenburg (my Peace Corps site).

* Weddings, funerals, babies, new jobs, house warmings, traditional ceremonies, parties, graduations.

* Make ups. Break ups.

* Overcoming my fear of running to complete my first marathon, and subsequently removing the word "can't" from my personal dictionary.

* Gazillions of Skype calls.

* Road trips all over South Africa.

* Trips to places such as Egypt and Ethiopia.

* Learning how it feels to be a grown-up: filing taxes, purchasing a car, life insurance, buying a washing machine, turning 30....

* Meeting the man I will marry and trying to join two lives/histories/cultures/expectations/dreams.

* Taking note of how my perspective on people and the world has been reshaped with each new experience.

In the past three years, I have live enough for a whole lifetime. Each and every day presents an opportunity to challenge me, change me, and serve as a catalyst for me to grow more and more into the woman I want to be. Three years ago, I certainly did not think that I'd still be here...three years later. You may be asking, "What's the plan for the next three years?" At this point, there is no solid answer other than to say that I look forward to the magic that the future holds!

Thank you to my friends, family, and you for supporting me through this journey...as I continue to live out the dreams of my 3rd grade self!

Here's to the future!

Dani