It’s hard to believe that 2012 is coming to a close. This year has been very eventful indeed and saw me moving from America to Bulgaria, confronting life (and a fair amount of culture shock) as a new expat, exploring my new home, venturing back to Denali, Alaska for a third summer working for Princess Cruises; time spent at home in Utah with friends and family, another leap across the pond to Bulgaria, and reveling in a ridiculous amount of incredible travels.
While part of me is sad to see such a jam-packed year pass, the rest of me is looking forward to the BIG changes and adventures that 2013 holds. There is already a lot in the works and Vince and I are excited for everything to come.
As I reflect back on 2012 and all that I have experienced, I wanted to share some of the highlights from this year that made their way into blog posts.
(It’s a long one guys!)
January:
- I introduced you all to Smolyan, my husband’s hometown and where we lived all winter.
- I struggled with being a new expat and yearned to make some friends in Bulgaria (two things that I am still dealing with).
- I visited Sofia for the first time and meet up with a blogger friend and her husband for a walk around the city center.
- I trace the roots of my never ending thirst for travel and wanderlust soul.
- I posted what was to be the first of many Wordless Wednesday posts.
- I try to wrap my mind around the Bulgarian version of pizza…and fail miserably, so we made our own!
February:
- We spent a crazy weekend in Sofia that included seeing Cirque du Soleil, having our car towed, and driving home with no brakes.
- I wrote a 4-part series on working in Alaska: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4.
- We spent a romantic Valentine’s Day in Plovdiv.
- I started working from home.
- We explored southern-Bulgaria’s countryside on a day trip to Kardzhali.
- I wrote my first guest blog post.
March:
- I bought tons of martenitsi and celebrated my first Baba Marta in Bulgaria.
- Vince and I headed to Shiroka Laka for city’s famous Kukeri (Pesponedelnik) festival.
- My in-laws threw me a big party and I met many members of my new extended family.
- Vince and I take an amazing road trip across Bulgaria and visit Koprivshtitsa, Hisarya, Kalofer, Shipka, Gabrovo, Etar, Veliko Tarnovo, Sozopol, Sunny Beach, Nessebar and Burgas.
- I head back to Utah for a month before working in Alaska for the summer.
April:
- I began the long process (again) of getting the type-D Bulgarian visa.
- After spending 3 months in Bulgaria, my cravings for American food all but disappeared.
- I embarrassed my husband by detailing some of the funny stuff he says to me.
- I visited my grandparents in Nevada.
- I ventured back up to the 49th state for another summer working for Princess.
- The first images I took of Healy and Denali in 2012.
- I took another trip on the famed Alaska Railroad.
- I took a photo-walk around Healy to show my readers the place I have called home for over a year of my life.
June:
- I tried “The Best Steaks in Alaska” for what was to be the first of many times.
- I celebrated my 300th blog post on GMB!
- I attempted, once again, to buckle down and learn some Bulgarian.
- I wrote another guest blog post.
- I finally got my butt in gear and spent a day off from work hiking and taking photos in Denali National Park.
July:
- I celebrated another 4th of July in true Denali fashion.
- My awesome family sent me a much-needed care package from home.
- I took an incredible flight over Denali National Park and bused back out.
- Just a few of the photos I took of the amazing Denali wildlife over the summer.
August:
- After a rough start to the month with my grandmother’s passing, I refocused and made a bigger effort to see more of Denali.
- I took a wonderful walk through the changing leaves of the park as fall settled in.
- I delighted in the many rainbows over Denali and Healy thanks to the abundant rainfall.
- The first snowfall hit Healy and it spelled the end of summer in Alaska.
September:
- Because I was still in Alaska, I was forced to travel through Vince on his Scandinavian cruise with his parents.
- I analyzed why it is I lead such a nomadic lifestyle.
- Winter arrived in Denali National Park.
- I took my last trip out to Savage River for 2012.
- The last week in Denali was craziness, but I survived!
- Vince and I celebrated one year of marriage.
- I flew from Anchorage to Los Angeles to apply for my long stay Bulgarian visa.
October:
- I took my favorite little lady to Utah’s Hogle Zoo.
- I catch everyone up on my life after Alaska.
- I plucked up my courage and chaperoned a field trip to Tracy Aviary for cousin and her Kindergarten class.
- A few fall 2012 firsts.
- VISA SUCCESS!
November:
- I packed up {again} and said goodbye to my fam.
- Back onto a plane and bound for Bulgaria.
- I detailed the horrible time I had in airports trying to get to BG.
- I found myself adjusting to living alone with the hubs and being a wife for the first time.
- We visited Smolyan and took in the beautiful fall scenery.
- I celebrated my 27th birthday with dinner in Sofia.
- I made a bigger effort to appreciate all the little things in life.
- We left on our 2-week Mediterranean cruise with a stop in Rome before setting sail. We spent Thanksgiving at sea.
December:
- We arrived home from a wonderful few weeks sailing the Mediterranean.
- The first snowfall of the season hit Sofia.
- I posted about our awesome tour at the Vatican to the tomb of St. Peter.
- 12 observations on life in Bulgaria on 12-12-12.
- Vince and I have a date night in Sofia and see The Hobbit in 3D, drive around the city center, and stop by the Christmas Market.
- I make chocolate chip and walnut cookies in preparation of my mom’s arrival in Sofia.
I haven’t been able to blog much in the past few weeks as my mom was visiting us from Utah for the holidays. We spent 3 nights wandering around Christmas-drenched Vienna before going down to Smolyan to introduce her to Vince’s parents and show her southern BG.
Those posts, along with the ones from our cruise, will be up soon!
Wishing you all a happy, safe, and successful New Year!
W.
: : :
RSS feed | Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr | Pinterest | Flickr | Goodreads
January 2, 2013 at 6:05 am
You certainly have had an event and travel-filled year! Here’s to another!