My year 2012 has been amazing. Last year this time I was selling, lending and throwing away my stuff in Finland and packing and packing and packing some more just to be able to fly to New York and start my sabbatical. Year without plans or schedules, year without a real paychecks or own space/apartment, year without anything I am used to having or doing and year alone, again, and far away from home. But also a year with my second family and dear friends I never see enough, year with free time just for myself and a new day every day really without any plans or schedules. Not bad one might say.
And what a year it has been. I saw 29 states in US, drove close to 10,000 miles, saw Atlantic and Pacific Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, explored United States from New York to Washington State and entire East Coast from Maine to Florida, did Dollywood, Ocracoke Island, Panama City Beach, Boothbay Harbour, Chicago, Savannah and other places, attended MIB3 movie premier in NYC and went to its after party with the cast, cheered in Oregon Duck football game in Seattle,
saw Mt. Rushmore, MIT, Harvard, Coney Island, Pike Place Market, St.John of Devine, Roosevelt Island, experienced hurricanes Ivan and Sandy, celebrated Christmas and New Year, Easter and numerous Birthdays, Thanksgiving and Halloween, took kids skating, swimming, movies, bowling, shopping, went to US open women's final and saw how Serena Williams won, met new people, found amazing new friends and dog/cat/housesat for different families and I also took about
9500 photographs. I dont even understand how fast last 12 months went and how much I've been able to do or see. Going through my pictures makes me understand all that little better but maybe after few months back in Finland things really will sink in?
I'm beyond thankful to my friends and family here in United States. Without their support and help and generosity all this would've not been possible. I can never pay back all I've got but I will try my best and maybe one day one or all of them will need my help and I'm able to help out?!
