Looking Back on 2012

2012 was a year full of challenges, growth, perseverance, and immense happiness. There were moments I wish I never had to experience as well as moments I will treasure for the rest of my life. But at the end of it all, every step of the adventure has been worthwhile. Here are my highlights of 2012…

JANUARY

Rang in the new year with two of my favorite people

After my assignment with PC Guatemala was cancelled, I was ecstatic to accept my new invitation to PC Botswana!

Family reunion in Akron, CO to celebrate my grandmother's 81st birthday

Family Retreat for Camp Wapiyapi - an organization so close to my heart <3

FEBRUARY

Continued working with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion - lucky to work with great students!

A dear college friend, Anthony, came to visit me in CO to say goodbye before I left for Botswana

MARCH

Family vacation to Las Vegas, NV to visit my brother, sister-in-law, niece & nephew

Surprise get together with some dear friends to say goodbye before the PC

APRIL

Going away party at my mom's house - thank you to all my loved ones who attended!

A not so pleasant memory - my father in the ICU the week before I left the country (and so very blessed to have him in good health after a stroke & heart surgery later in the year. Life is so fragile! Love you dad!)

Saying Good-Bye to the best group of co-workers a girl could ever ask for!

Spending Easter Sunday with my lovely family & seeing the finished quilt from my beautiful grandma! She made an incredible quilt out of my old sorority/college T-Shirts. Love you so much grams! 

FINALLY leaving for the Peace Corps & moving in with my host family

MAY

Celebrating my 23rd birthday with my PC family - a remarkable group of people!

Spending countless hours at PST (Pre-Service Training) and trying to soak in as much knowledge as possible-

 like how to ignore cow heads in the fridge and other important things like PC approach to development :o)

JUNE   

Swearing in as an official Peace Corps Volunteer! 

Moving to my new home in Kang, Botswana

Bringing home my first cat, Makibikibi

JULY

Learning all about my new community and finishing my community assessment

Bonding with my amazing family next door 

AUGUST

Attending my auntie's wedding in Kang

IST (In-Service Training) in Gaborone to learn a bit more and reconnect with my beloved Bots 12 group!

SEPTEMBER

Educating the community about teenage pregnancy - a big collaborative project with students from the senior secondary school

Teaching the Biology & Epidemiology of HIV to a new group of Peace Corps Trainees

Welcoming a new puppy into our lives on the family compound!

OCTOBER

Hosting a Peace Corps Trainee for a week in Kang - showing her my normal life as a PCV!

Organizing inspirational talks about the importance of education at Motaung Junior Secondary School

A lovely game drive out at Lerucama Ranch - so much beauty in the desert!

NOVEMBER

Hosting a weight loss contest at the local clinic & helping organize a community health fair in Kang

Completing my first season of PC SKILLZ /Grassroots Soccer - a program designed to teach about HIV/AIDS using soccer. So proud of my girls who graduated!

Spending Thanksgiving in Maun with an incredible group of Peace Corps Volunteers

DECEMBER

Christmas party with my beloved staff workers at Kang Clinic

My brother graduating from Colorado State University - so proud of you!

Going to Europe for Christmas & New Years to spend time with Michael & his parents

*   *   *   *   *

The life I live is a very beautiful one, full of love and blessings. I am so thankful for each & every one of you who enriches my life. Like I always say, I am me because of you. 2012 was quite remarkable and I'm looking forward to what 2013 might bring.

Happy (Belated) New Year to all of my loved ones!

Love & Light,

TMV