Today I find myself with a bit of time alone (mostly because I am home sick instead of at work). I have had the most wonderful and slightly overwhelming past few days. Managing to surprise multiple people and get picked up and spun around more than once as a greeting is actually incredibly fun. My desire to get on campus and get to see multiple people has really conflicted with wanting to stay home and rest. Also going from a semester surrounded by basically 10 different people into hundreds is a bit overwhelming.
I'm going to copy a bit from my friend David's
blog and put up a few pictures from 2011. But with more pictures than him. And inevitably more words, since I am a wordy person.
2011 started off with a bang for me. I was in Abu Dhabi with my parents and Kyle and Kirsti for the winter holidays with the Self's. Talk about a Christmas vacation.
A few days later (the 3rd or 4th?), I found myself on a plane heading west to the London Heathrow international airport. I met up with my class, led by the incredibly knowledgeable Keith Beebe, and traveled through London, Oxford, York, Durham, Whitby, Edinburgh and Inverness (I might have missed a few). On this trip, I learned so much about the history of the UK and the church. I also had the joy of meeting some of the most incredible people, some of whom I am living with right now!
Big Ben, London
the tower bridge, London
York Whitby Village
The end of January brought me back to the motherland: Spokane. I finished the school year off as a Resident Assistant and solidifying some good friendships.
These three people are such great friends :)
Spring break in Gig Harbor!
Whitworth LARPing
One of my favorite team bonding moments :) What is better than throwing paint at each other?
This summer I stayed in Spokane, working with some WONDERFUL men and women in the facilities services office at school (I was very excited to get back to work this spring), shutting back and forth to Lynden to spend time with Kyle and Kirsti while they were visiting and then mom and dad before they went back to Guangzhou.
Family picture taken on Mt. Baker June 26th
September came rolling around and I found myself packing up and heading to Monte de la Cruz, Costa Rica. I don't think I can pick just a few pictures from that semester, but I will try. I was challenged to lengths I did not expect and made some really good friends.
One of the oldest cathedrals in Central America: León, Nicaragua
Manzanillo, Costa Rica Hannia (aka Kuki), my host mom
Playa Blanca, Costa Rica - Pacific coasts
Crocodile tour. Wonderful people. German tourists!
Early December and I find myself boarding more planes: back to the US for 30 hours and onward, to Hong Kong and Guangzhou!
obligatory family Christmas photo I love me some HK.
And finally, just in time for New Years, I board my last plane of the year to Vancouver on December 31st. Land on the 30th and am picked up by the most wonderful family: the Roorda's. And that is my adventure! The first of the year found me back in Spokane, settling in to my house. I have no idea where the rest of this year is going to take me (minus Ireland - bought those tickets over Christmas). Job ideas? Let me know! :)
As it is said: Congratulations graduate! Welcome to unemployment!
