A Year in Review

2012 started off simple, quiet, and hanging out with those who are important to me. It also ended much the same way. However, what happened in between that time I don't even know if I have the words to express it. 

2012 was set up with high hopes from the moment I decided I wanted to be a teacher. 2012 meant the year that all my schooling was complete. I crossed that line from student to professional and was presented with that scary thought of entering the real world. 

As the year started, I didn't think too much of it. I was going through my day to day routines, nothing too exciting. But it all started with the acceptance letter for the South Africa practicum, then came the England interview, and then my car spun out on black ice and I crashed into a wall. 

That crash though, was much of a symbol of how my year progressed. And not in a bad way. But more the uncontrollable, adrenalin kind of way. Hitting the wall, my car had a little scrape and a popped out bumper. Nothing too serious, but enough change to be noticeable. 

Most people that meet me now don't believe me when I say I used to be shy, and used to be realllly shy. As I progressed through my placements last year, I could feel myself gain more confidence, and breaking out of that shell I had held onto so tightly for so many years.

Travelling to South Africa was really when I broke through this. Comparing South Africa to El Salvador, the trips were very similar. Same school environments, same student lifestyles, aspect of danger, etc. But comparing who I was when I went to El Salvador in 2010 to who I became in South Africa in 2012 became my own little story. And oddly enough, something that made the changes noticeable was the food. 

2012 definitely became a year of food for me. I ate Ostrich, Springbok, Crocodile, Warthog, Billatong, Haggis, Blood Pudding, and I'm sure there's a couple I'm forgetting. I was trying new things without any hesitation. Something of which used to be very unusual behaviour for me. 

Since my knee injury, I have let that get in the way of a lot of things. But, in Africa, despite my fear of heights and my knee, I climbed Lion's Head mountain.

These challenges and successes are all very symbolic of the past few years of my life, but in particular this past year. 2012 had very many ups and downs, but also a lot of discovery. 

I graduated teachers college and even Ryan Gosling was so proud he came to watch me walk across the stage (obviously not to watch his Mum), I travelled to South Africa, Amsterdam, Paris, Scotland and I moved to England. 

I have met some really amazing people and made some of the best of friends I have ever had, I also have met some really lame people, and I have rid some really horrible people from my life. All of these people however have had an impact on who I am starting 2013. 

2013 started much like 2012 did, quiet, relaxed, and time well spent with family. All that may have taken place in 2012 though feels much like the calm before the storm. 2013 is starting off right away with it's challenges, but it's also starting off with a lot of excitement. I can only imagine the amount of mountains I am going to have to climb this year. But I can't wait to get over each and every one of them. 

I am now back in England, and started back at school today. Thank goodness for no students because me and jet lag are fighting a vicious battle and well, I'm losing. We've moved into our new school building and it is really amazing. Hard to envision our students working in it, and hard to picture how my classroom is going to work without walls, but time will tell. 

I have soccer try outs tomorrow evening, I am beyond excited to start playing again. As well, I have signed up for a tough mudder in London in June. 

Next on the list is to start planning my trips, first holiday is in 6 weeks!

Having the 4 months away and coming back for the holidays really made me realize who I have become, who my real, great friends are how important my friends and family are. The challenges from last year and the ones I'm about to face this year would not seem so possible without them. As tough as stepping foot back on that plane may have been on Friday, as hard as it was to say goodbye again, I can't wait for everything that is going to happen this year!