Apologies to Blog Readers

To anyone who might have hoped to follow more of my blogging this winter:

I apologize for not keeping up with blog updates through the winter months.  A couple of big things have contributed to this: 1.) Tax Season- which comes along once a year and shocks me with its all-consuming power and 2.) Wedding Planning- that's right!  Rob & I are getting married this June!  Don't get me wrong; these are both very good things.  I'm more than satisfied with the way my International Tax Consulting Business is going and have thoroughly enjoyed corresponding with clients based in interesting posts around the world, but it just doesn't leave much time for other activities from February through mid-April.  I shouldn't complain, though, since for the most part, I have it pretty good the other ten months of the year.  And wedding planning is a unique and memorable once-in-a-lifetime experience, so I want to do it to the best of my abilities, though again, it seems like as soon as I cross one item off of my "To Do" list, several more items pop up. 

So, please bear with me as I take another blog break, and I'll be back eventually.  In the meantime, I've found it fascinating to see how many people (from all over the world) have logged in to this blog to check out a post or two.  I've also had the amazing chance-experience of re-connecting with a former friend because she and her husband found me through the blog (and it turned out we were both in Kigali, Rwanda at the same time- seriously, what are the chances?)  Even though I haven't been an active blogger recently, it seems that there are still some benefits to having this blog out there on the blogosphere-- unintended consequences/benefits of this experiment.

Thanks for your patience through this busy time...

Marsha 

Zone V Qualifying Tournament- Feb. 2011 in Kigali, Rwanda

A big congratulations to the Rwandan Men & Rwandan Women National Teams for winning the Zone V Qualifying Tournament, Feb. 2011 in Kigali, Rwanda.  The win secures a place in both the African Cup of Nations and the All-African Games later in 2011!  

2011- Reflections on the Travel Bug

A few weeks of a blog break quickly turned into over a month.  It's good to be back, though, and 2011 is certainly promising to be a very exciting year.

After a four-week whirlwind trip home, sandwiched in between two extra-long days of flying halfway around the world, I can't help but to do just a bit of reflecting on travel. 

First, the numbers.  Since departing the U.S. for Rwanda on August 29th, 2006:

-I have lived in 6 different apartment.
-I have attempted to learn 4 different languages.
-I have spent time in 13 different countries.
-I have flown approximately 200,000 miles.

I can say without a doubt that I've loved every minute of this non-stop series of destinations.  I had gotten bit by the Travel Bug, and fed the fever in a major way. 

It's also safe to say that my travel-stamina is dwindling, that every time I leave home it's just a little bit harder and a little more draining.

As 2011 begins, I have a goal: one more year and a half, max, living outside of the U.S.  After that, sure I'll get the Travel Bug and plan vacations and look forward to returning to visit friends in places where we've lived, and maybe even take a temporary assignment overseas at some point, but there'll be a difference: we'll have our own home base in the U.S., near family, friends, or both.

So, that means I have a year and a half to make the most of life overseas.  Sounds good to me; it's a challenge I'm definitely willing to take!