Welcoming 2016 in Beirut

A lot of people are doing their 2016 welcome blogs, and it's a good opportunity to reflect and think ahead. I'm not big on resolutions, or at least not in January, because they seem like a good way to set yourself up for failure. I find that February and March are, for me, a better time to try to do something new, resolution-style.

I rang in the new year in low-key Lebanese style, with colleagues and new friends and a huge spread of delicious treats. The kids passed out just after 11:00 and didn't wake even when the noisemakers and toasts and fireworks began an hour later. So the parents put silly hats on them and took pictures, as one does with sleeping children. We had a lovely profiterole cake and champagne before heading back to the Embassy, rejoicing in an absence of the harrowing holiday traffic that has made Beirut a parking lot for the last few months. Apparently there's a golden time until 4:00 am when everyone starts leaving the parties. We got home at 1:30 am, and I was pretty impressed at myself for making it to that late hour!

This second three day weekend in a row is bliss, but the holidays aren't over yet! Armenian Christmas gives us another four day week next week with a mid-week holiday. And after that it's vacation time - look for some blogs of a different flavor from the recent safari posts coming soon. 

2015 brought a new post, two new countries (Lebanon and Turkey) and two familiar ones (UK and Zambia) and one Lyle Lovett concert. I gained a new sister-in-law, got to see tons of friends and relatives, and had some lovely new adventures in my new home. I get to stay put in 2016, at least in terms of moving house, and I have three new countries and two familiar ones on the books for the first half of the year.  I get to bid next summer and am excited by the possibilities for 2017 and beyond.

I'm thankful for a loving family and amazing friends and a dream career. I have things to work on, but life is generally quite good. 2015 had its ups and downs, and I'm sure 2016 will too, but I look forward to the adventure!