Heather's Adventures in Lesotho

It’s not over yet, but I was thinking recently what a big year 2012 has turned out to be. So far this year I have:

• learned to scuba
• climed Kilimanjaro (documented here, here and here)
• formed an amateur theatre group with friends that produced two musicals (and performed in one)
• run my first 10k (and a second one in July)
• started playing the piano again
• traveled to five countries not including Lesotho, South Africa or the U.S. (France, Tanzania, Uganda, Germany + Kenya) and five U.S. cities (Seattle, Baltimore, New York City (x2), Boston + Salt Lake City (x2))
• created 50+ digital scrapbook pages (thankfully, for you, not all shared here)

In addition – and this will come as a surprise to some of you – I have also been promoted twice … or three times, depending on how you count. In February I was asked to be the Acting Deputy Country Director when our DCD left and my position as Program Manager was coming to an end in June. The DCD gig became permanent officially in August (promotion #2?). When I took the DCD job, however, it was with the understanding that my boss was looking for opportunities outside Lesotho in the next 6-9 months and that I would be the most likely candidate to step in to that position, although not guaranteed. Well that transition ended up happening on a much faster timeline than I expected and as of this week I’ve been officially promoted to the position of Country Director. I know, I can’t believe it either. My boss is going to a great position with the same organization in South Africa. When the opportunity came up the Regional Director asked if I was ready to take on the CD position and my response was “Ready as I’m ever going to be.” I am incredibly humbled by the opportunity to lead our team at what is shaping up to be a very exciting time for the program. I am also very lucky to have the support of senior management in transitioning to the new position. It’s still a little strange to think about because the (now) former CD will be around through December but on paperwork it’s official!

Looking back on 2012 what really boggles my mind is that all of these things are just the highlights. It doesn’t include the countless dinner parties, house parties, happy hours, weekend trips, day trips etc that fill in the time between the big stuff. No wonder the year feels like it has absolutely flown by. Two weeks from now I will be in Utah for a few days before I head off for Belize and Mexico over Christmas and New Years. I know that I say this all the time, but I really mean it – I am so lucky.