And it seems even more appropriate than usual to pause and reflect, since this July 3rd finds me on the threshold- today, more than any year before, I'm poised for a momentous life change. I'm excited and impatient to start my new life, alongside my new husband, in a new country (and to learn yet another new language). I'm counting down the moments: forty eight more days until I marry my best friend.
But at the same time, I am deeply thankful for my experiences here the past year, and finding the leaving bitter sweet. I'm treasuring the moments: twelve more days in this country I've called home for the past 2 years.
This has been such a fulfilling year: I got engaged, saw work projects more successful than I could have imagined, finally developed a sense of community in Pana, deepening friendships and making new friends. I hosted Thanksgiving and Easter dinner here in Pana, spent Christmas in Romania with Cristian and my soon to be in-laws, visited Tikal with a friend, went camping with family back home, and spent 2 months with my Aunt and Uncle as neighbors.
As I look forward to the next year, I'm full of anticipation. I imagine next July will find us in France, and I hope it finds me gainfully employed and chattering away in French. But whatever I'm doing, and wherever I happen to be next July, I expect to have grown in new ways, and I expect to be happy.
