2010: The Year of Living Vietnamesely

2010 was perhaps the strangest year of my entire life. I never expected to find myself living in a small city in the Mekong Delta, but that's exactly what 2010 held for me. It was certainly a challenging year - it's not easy living in another country so far away from family and friends and it's definitely not easy to live amongst people with such different backgrounds, language and culture.

Despite these hardships, I think 2010 has been a good year, I've got to experience things I never expected  to experience and visit places that I never even imagined existed. I've also learnt a lot about myself and I've done things that, 12 months ago, would have scared me silly (12 months ago the very thought of moving to Vietnam was enough to keep me awake at night worrying!). And while I've always known that I am very lucky in terms of where I grew up and all the opportunities presented to me, I now think I am much more grateful for all that I have.

I don't know what 2011 has instore for Dan and me. The only definite plan so far is to keep living and working in Vietnam until mid-April, then we don't know what will happen, where we will go or what we will do.

I hope that you all have a brilliant new years eve and that 2011 has lots of good times and joy instore for you.

Happy new year everyone! Now mot, hai, ba...dzo!!!

(translation: 1,2,3...drink!)