Happy New Year!

           Wow! I can’t even express what kind of crazy ride this has been: literally and looking back at the year.  I got to finish my soccer career, keep a job that I love and grow closer in my relationships with people and the Lord. 

Not to mention, I’ve gotten to travel to some pretty cool places: North Carolina, New York, Philadelphia, Virginia and now Thailand! I left America about 2 days ago and right now I feel like I’m in another world. I haven’t traveled overseas since I went to London in 2011 and I was excited but so nervous to go to Thailand. This was my first adventure traveling completely solo. I had joked with friends that I was going to make some friends on the plane and I would enter Thailand with more friends than I left with.

Most people who know me know I’m a people person. I like to talk to people and find out about them. On my flight from Chicago to Tokyo I had the pleasure of sitting by a married couple from Chicago and a little boy from Japan. I was kind of ticked off that it was no one my age but I didn’t realize what an enjoyable time I would have talking to them.

I got to learn about the married couples travels all around the world and how the man is from Jordan- the country (haha). They told me all about where they loved to travel and about their kids. They even had to comfort me in some pretty bad turbulence as we were on the flight. The little boy, Rin, was from Japan and was the most polite 11 years old I have ever met. Him and I became quick friends and he couldn’t stop talking to me about his games and his home.

I must say that if it weren’t for my company, the flight would have been a lot less enjoyable. The first flight was 13 hours and the second flight was 7. I was antsy, anxious and nervous as the tv on the wall said we had 15 minutes until we reached Bangkok. It wasn’t until we all realized we were landing right at midnight that everyone got really excited. Some people on the plane started yelling Happy New Year and as we looked out the windows, there were fireworks everywhere. It definitely brought a smile to my face. Well, that and the fact that I could finally get off the plane.

2012 has brought so many memories and I am so looking forward to 2013. Not many people can say that they started out the New Year in a different country. It just reminds me how big how world is and in turn how big our God is. I am so blessed to be able to have this opportunity. I can’t wait to go out and explore Thailand! I'll be updating this blog every few days with some of the things I've been doing!