2012

2013 has been divided into two distinct parts; my life as an expat living and working in Morocco and my life as a repatriate living in the area where I grew up in the U.S. One year, equally divided between life abroad and life in the U.S., a life of great activity and struggle and a life of complete calm and reflection. What a balancing act!

Life in Morocco was like attending an intensive course in a subject matter I am hard-pressed to name. After 5 years. I should have earned a diploma for completing this course. And I do feel like I completed it. But what would I give myself a degree in? I guess it all boiled down to gaining experience and discovering my basic character. I chose not to stay and go for my Master's degree. I felt I had learned what I needed to learn and by the time June arrived I desperately wanted to change the scene. I needed to reflect on all that had happened.

The Universe provided me with a place to retreat to and so here I sit in a very peaceful, beach side setting. It couldn't be more different from where I had been, sitting in a vertical house in a walled city with people everywhere. I spend most of my days in solitude. I retire early and wake up even earlier. The days have drifted by.

The first half of this year I spent my days juggling my time between 4 or 5 jobs. During the second half my main job has been trying to process the knowledge I acquired living abroad. This processing led to musings about all the preceding years and I've had many discussions with myself about my unconventional life.

What will happen next? I have no idea but I am sure the more I understand about myself as I approach 2012, the better the experience will be.

Bring it on!