Goodbye 2011

Christmas in Taipei was a success.  Although I was missing friends and family back home, I managed to still have a very Merry Christmas.  Christmas Eve was spent with several friends at an English pub where we enjoyed another turkey dinner.  Afterwards, some of us went out walking in an area of Taipei that is all lit up with Christmas trees and Christmas decorations.  The atmosphere of Christmas was alive and comforting here in Taipei, but I still was missing home a little!  Christmas day was great; Mark and I woke up early and opened presents, and then skyped with several family members that morning.  It was nice to talk to family for a few hours and have them be apart of our day.  For Christmas day dinner, I took Mark (as his gift) to a Western style restaurant that was serving a full course turkey dinner.  It was way too much food and wine, and we both left feeling disgustingly full, but since that's how you usually feel on Christmas, we enjoyed the discomfort.  The next day it was back to business as usual as we returned to work.  Having a day and a half off at Christmas was definitely not enough, so I am counting down the days til our vacation abroad... 22 days!  Here are some pictures from our Christmas.  Hope everyone back home had a wonderful Christmas!

How adorable is she?

The gang at Christmas eve dinner

  

 This year has definitely flown by, but I guess every year does.  In 2011, I finished my last semester of university, graduated, enjoyed an amazing summer with friends and family, moved across the world, settled in a foreign Asian city, began my career as a teacher, surfed in the ocean, ate tons of random food,  made new and amazing friends and learned a bit of Chinese (not much).  I think 2012 will be a great year.  I have a trip to Thailand coming up at the end of January, and then I am blessed to have my mom and brother come visit me in April.  That right there makes the year already amazing.  Not sure what the rest of the year will hold, but I will make it a good one.  Hope everyone had a festive holiday season, and has a very happy new year!  All the best in 2012!