Welcome 2012!

We welcomed the New Year in the snowy mountains, with good friends, beautiful fireworks and champagne. It felt like a good way to start 2012!

Thanks to everyone for a great time!

Sunset Saturday XXXXIV

I finished the year the same way I started it: with a day on the slopes. Except this time there was no sunshine, but snow, snow, snow.
Happy New Year!

Reflections on Year One

It's been exactly a year since I first came to Africa and I have been thinking quite a bit lately about the last 12 months on this continent. Obviously, I have not really seen a lot and there is still a lot of unexplored territory on my personal African map, but many of the bits that I've seen in the past year are definitely among the most beautiful places that I have ever been to. The most fascinating part of Africa for me is the beautiful nature, the amazing wildlife, the wide sky and the stunning sunsets. And of course, the people - even though interaction has at times been and still continues to be challenging. Coming from Europe, some of the habits and attitudes of people here are simply startling and I sometimes find it hard to understand their acts and choices in life. That being said, I also find that making an effort from my part almost always pays off. The reward is a beautiful smile and some very interesting insights into Batswana culture. Of course, the fact that I am not on my own here also helps a lot - so a big thanks to my favorite man and all the other people who have made me feel at home here!

it was a very good year...

2010 has been a year full of adventures in different parts of the world. I have travelled a lot (I counted 20 countries - this year I win our internal competition :), spent time on three different continents and started a new job. Here are some of my personal highlights of the past year:

In January I started my great journey and went to the end of the world before making my way back up through Argentina and Chile. In February I spent some great weeks in Patagonia before things got a big shaky in Santiago and I embarked on the longest bus journey ever to La Paz. In March, altitude fatigue seemed to set in after a couple of weeks on the Altiplano, but when I made it to NYC it was time for celebrations.

In April I soaked in some sun on the beaches of Nicaragua & Costa Rica and kind of fell in love with Cuba. In May I spent some time in Europe with my family and old friends, and was really excited to be re-united with my favorite man and start a new adventure in Botswana. In June I got the travel bug again and spent a couple of weeks on the road, watching football and wild animals with old and new friends.

In July, I fell in love with Capetown, saw my first lion and then slowly started to settle in to life in Gabs. In August, we went for a road trip to beautiful Namibia, I played tennis every week and tried to get to know my new host city. In September, I started work again, made new friends in Gabs and loved the sunshine and the warm days.

In October, we went to Capetown for a week before family and friends came to visit us and see the wildlife. In November, work got quite busy and I flew to Mexico for the climate change negotiations. In December, I spent Christmas with my family, got to see my best friends and loved the snow and the winter.

I am so grateful for all of the amazing experiences, for all the wonderful people I've met and the great opportunities of last year. It really was an amazing year! Now I am looking forward to 2011 and to sharing some of our adventures along the way.

Happy New Year to everyone!!!

(picture credits: no 6 by Jean-Francois, no 9 by Keith)