365 days ago I was sitting on my couch in California and filling out my Peace Corps application. I remember thinking that it was such a long shot and that there was no way they would pick me.

Fast forward one year and here I am… the day before my 31st birthday and I’m here! I’m in AFRICA! Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ACTUALLY be selected out of thousands of applicants to have the privilege of serving in the Peace Corps.

31. So I am sure that you are all wondering what exciting plans I have for my birthday, right?! Well… I’m going to…….. church. Yep! This good little Jewish girl is going to church. Also, I’m going to re-mud the floor in my room AND do my laundry! But, I’m in Africa and I am basking in this incredible journey that I am so blessed to be on. My first year of my thirties has been one hell of a rollercoaster with millions of twists and turns and ups and downs. I feel like I’ve learned so much about myself and successfully spoken my truth in many situations that I had never had the courage to previously. I look back upon this last year and I am so proud of this woman that I am becoming. This person. The things that I have overcome in this past year and the lessons I have learned. There are so many.

My life has been enriched by incredible relationships with people I never expected to meet and this has continued to be the case within these few weeks that I have been here in Malawi. Even with the trials that I have already had, I am happy. The process to get here was so long and complicating and now that I am here, well, it is so clear as to why that is. Africa is not for the faint of heart. This journey will not be an easy one… but it will be worth it. It already is.

With a happy and hopeful heart, I welcome this year with open arms.