A Year in Review

Staycation: the perfect word to describe my ten day Christmas vacation at home. Besides a few activities (seeing Les Miserables, indulging at breakfast in the circular dining room, running a few errands for staples from the U.S., accompanying my niece and nephew to Chocolate world, and completing a 5K Peeps resolution run), I basically stayed in my house for 10 days. My family, best friends and I lived in a repeating cycle of eating, playing games, and putting more logs on the fire. And it was amazing. I don’t think I struggled too much with adapting to the Spanish culture, but there are certainly things about city life that can be exhausting. (Mostly the constant activity that makes me feel like I need to be constantly doing something.) Thus, I fully enjoyed the chance to just hang with my friends and family in what Hanah likes to refer to as “the country.” Who would’ve ever thought that Hershey would seem like the country?

I didn’t take too many pictures (with the number of cameras circulating the household I figured I would get them from the family later on), but here is a short photographic representation of my break.

Elf on the shelf getting into some trouble in the days leading up to Christmas.

 Christmas Candylane at Hersheypark... with my who niece is ALREADY a Reeses!

 

Abandoned steel mill in Bethlehem, PA, where Mom, Jackie and I ran our Resolution Run.

But Christmas break aside, 2012 was a big year for me. Here's brief look at 12 major events from the past 12 months...

1. Student teaching. After completing my coursework, I finally had the opportunity to have control over a classroom. I learned many lessons during my semester of student teaching (including the ridiculousness factor of middle school boys), but I was pleased to discover throughout the four months that I do in fact enjoy teaching middle school/high school level.

Spanish II

2. Dance 38 + Your Cheekbones, My Chin. My last faculty dance piece (extended into rehearsals and performances for Angie’s thesis) at Hope College led an entirely new creative experience. While investigating the relationship between movement and sound, I ended up disregarding all fear of embarrassment. Instead I acted and sang and twitched and flung my body all over the place to suit Angie’s vision. Many call it bizarre, but it was wonderful fun and it challenged me to a whole new idea of “letting go”.

Morgan, Angie, and I in Your Cheekbones, My Chin.

3. End of Sacred Dance Ministry. Wow. How those Saturday mornings shaped my dance experience, my overall experience, at Hope College. I grew so much as a result of the wonderful women who pushed me creatively and spiritually; I don't know what else to say but thank you. You all are amazing and I miss you dearly. Although I have gotten the opportunity to dance at my church here in Madrid, there is nothing quite like seeing God form a piece out of the improvisations of 5 distinct bodies.

Our mission: to live and spread God's word through movement

4. Graduation. Do the years even matter now? One year out of college, three years out of college, seven years out of college… it’s more or less the same from here on out. The year 2012 brought to a close the wonderful experience of Hope, which I wouldn’t trade for anything. 

 The bestie and I

The whole family made it to Holland for my graduation weekend, including little A-Rog (fresh off the plane from Rwanda)!

5. Goodbye Hank the Tank. My dad always said that he wanted my car to get me through college. He never mentioned that he wanted it to get me home from college. So began the car saga this summer that taught me about insurance claims, rental cars, tow trucks, salvaging parts, and emergency room visits. But most of all, I learned that when disaster strikes, I have many people that will rush to my rescue. 

 233,806 miles isn't too shabby

6. Newsies. And the world will know… how wonderful Newsies is! I’ve been to many Broadway shows over the year but this one definitely takes the cake. The original cast consisting of 4 previous contestants of SYTYCD (So You Think You Can Dance) took this to a whole new level!

Seize the day!

7. Up North. I made it! After years of hearing stories of "up North" from all the Michiganders, some friends and I headed up to camp in Ludington, MI. This was also my first camping trip since 4th grade... I would consider a success since we survived the whole weekend without plates.

A few of the best co-workers EVER in an antique shop in Ludington. UB awesome :)

8. Riding a segway. Why not?! A random activity to check off the bucket list.

 

 Yes, my segway was camo.

9. Wedding.  Whoa, I'm getting old. Thus summer, I was in my first wedding as a friend, rather than a family member. And the trip to New Hampshire with so many great girls from Hope was the best way to spend my last weekend in the states before heading off to Spain.

Natalie, Kristen, Mikella and I on Mikella's wedding day!

10. "Life is a journey, not a destination" (Ralph Waldo Emerson). In September I started my trek of El Camino de Santiago. Granted, it was only two days long (2013 will surely bring more etapas of the Camino...), but it coincided with the beginning of the much bigger journey of starting my life in Spain. New job, new friends, new city, new time zone, new church... this bigger journey doesn't have the same distinct yellow arrows, but the adventure makes it worth it.

Direction along El Camino de Santiago

11. Traveling. The Fulbright grant allows me plenty of time to travel around Europe, which I plan to continue this coming year. Trips in 2012 to Santander, Geneva, Annecy, Chamonix, and Valencia add to my understanding of the world and people around me.

Most people don't get to go to the Alps on a weekend trip during their first year out of college.

12. Thanksgiving. I spent my first Thanksgiving without any family this year. There were certainly sad moments of celebrating such a big holiday without family, but I also got to enjoy the challenge of cooking a Thanksgiving dinner for 15 people with Napala and Dan. And, since everyone was missing home, enough people threw Thanksgivings that I got to attend three :)

Napala, Dan, and I managed to put out quite a spread!

It is crazy to remember all of the things that have happened in the past 12 months. These few highlights don't even begin to record the variety of experiences I've had or to recognize all of the people who have shaped me into the woman I am today. Nevertheless, it was fun to take a glimpse at the past before heading into the future. I can't wait to see what 2013 will bring!

In His grip,

Amber

"He who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give all things?" 

- Romans 8:32 

A precious reminder that no matter what happens, I'll be taken care of in the years to come.