Carrie Marshall

Sadly, I’m going to take Ray off my list, because he passed away in 2004. I’ll only ever meet him through his music but that is good enough for me. His music always makes me happy whenever I hear it, where ever I am.

REFLECTIONS ON 2006

I have a lot to be thankful for this year. 2006 has taught me several important lessons about myself. Among the most valuable were my lessons in patience, understanding and acceptance this year. I’ve learned what it takes to be deeply committed to a great love, to family and to my own hopes and dreams.

I’ve learned that in order to achieve in life, one must endure sacrifice and hardships. I’ve learned how much joy that life can hold and how to hold that feeling in my heart when times are rough. I’ve learned that life really has ups and downs and we all suffering greatly through them and yet still continue to live life joyfully. I’ve learned acceptance – of myself and of my surroundings. I’ve learned that I might not like everything, but I will try to deal with it with dignity, grace and in my own way.

The year 2006, began for me in Changchun, China. Changchun was my home for three years, and I have grown to love it for many reasons. I found terrific people from all walks of life and of all nationalities, and made lasting friendships that will see me to the end of my days, It is a magical place across the breadth of this world where I found what I had unwillingly left behind at home: love and friendship. And where I found something new: a new love, knowledge, passion and independence – all of which have helped to make me the person I am today. Most unexpectedly, Changchun is the place where I said good-bye to the little girl and hello to the woman in myself.

I am blessed to have the love of my life once again by my side. John and I began the year together after being apart for over 9 months. We embarked on our new lives together by commemorating it with a two month long journey throughout South East Asia. Every place we’ve been to and every thing that has happened to us has bonded us more closely together. I’ve relied on him and shared so much with him. I’m so grateful that he is in my life.

John and I eagerly re-assumed the roles of world travelers by heading south to Beijing, China by sleeper train. Our travels took us from northern to southern China, Thailand and Malaysia. We got engaged on the 1st of March in Bali, Indonesia and spent a magical two weeks together before reluctantly heading back to Thailand to secure our entry visas for Taiwan.

We moved to Taiwan on the 15th of March, 2006. It has been a struggle and a learning lesson for both of us this year. We arrived in Taiwan with nothing, and were very fortunate to have kind and considerate bosses that took care of us and helped ease us into a new life here. Our co-workers and students have also been wonderful. We are grateful that we have escaped the many horrible jobs that people get lured into over here. Most of our experiences have been positive ones.

Our travels this summer involved numerous excursions around the fair isle of Taiwan, a whirlwind weekend in Hong Kong and a return visit to China. China is and always will be a special place for us. Just as we have made and found our special places in other parts of the world as well. We have discovered that our travelers’ souls are most at peace when on the road. This is when we are the most happiest, when we are
exploring the unknown together and discovering all the treasures that life has to offer.

The end of 2006 has brought us peace, happiness and security with each other, our loved ones and our environment. With a wedding to plan and numerous roads to travel, we are eagerly anticipating 2007.

I like Reeljim for being exactly what his name suggests, for being down-to-earth, honest-to-goodness, 100% REAL. These are the kind of people I like to surround myself with and perhaps this is why we were drawn to each other here on 43things.

From the first time Jim stopped by for a chat, I knew I’d met someone here who would offer kind words of advice and encouragement. I wasn’t wrong. He is kind and supportive and he makes me laugh.

Plus, he makes killer sushi. I’d love to help him prepare a meal of specially prepared goodies while we while away the hours chatting about his latest escapades and adventures.

OK, this is something I have been wanting to write for weeks now, but was waiting for my head to clear a little from my case of “Brain Fog” due to a few rounds with the “Winter Wonder Bug”( but alas I can wait no longer!).....so you will just have to bare with me, and my “Foggy Head” mixed with cold medicine and lack of sleep, and hope that this makes a little sense,...if any at all ! _{HEY LOOK! There goes a pink monkey riding a scooter, while talking on a cell phone!...well that’s just not something you see every day now is it!?...though lately there does seem to be a lot of them around my neighbourhood….}
.....but all kidding aside, this is about our lovely” Miss Globetrotter”, _{not the damned Pink Monkeys which haunt me day and night!}
I remember the day Miss Globetrotter floated into 43things, wrapped in a gauzy veil, exuding confidence, friendliness , Mystic, humanity, style and kindness to all those around her. She handed out stories from far off foreign places,( which caught us all like a fish on a line, and reeled us in ). She is a “Modern Day Young Woman Of The World”, blazing trails before her, bridging gaps between different worlds and cultures, and not only teaching the students of her class, but all of those whom come into contact with her, be it here on 43things, or in person_{for this I do not doubt}. She passes out cultural enlightenment like a favorite recipe to a good friend, and leaves us all wanting more, with our noses pressed to the oven door, to see what she will bake up next.
Her talents never cease to amaze me ( she teaches, she sings, she travels the world!) is there anything this girl can NOT do I ask ? _{This I doubt very much!}
I am proud to call her a “Canadian Cousin”, and to know she is out there in this wide world, acting as a perfect ambassador to our country, and the things for which we truly stand for.( Something for which I don’t say lightly.)
I am glad to have met Miss Globetrotter here, and perhaps one day we will actually meet up in person, perhaps at some local “Timmy’s”, over some “double doubles” and a box of “Tim Bits” to discuss her latest adventures….in the mean time I look forward to reading her entries here , and traveling through her eyes.
_{( And now that this is finished I have got to go chase down some monkeys!!! As they just ran over my garden Gnome, and took two of my cats as Hostage!!!)}

This posting is long overdue. I can’t believe I’ve waited this long to write it. Dharmagirl was one of the first to post comments to my entries when I joined the 43 community. She was the first person I subscribed to and I can always count on at least one of her comments making me grin every day.

Dharmagirl, you are quite possibly the coolest woman I know. I don’t think I’ve ever read an unkind word of yours here on 43things, except maybe in jest! Your personality shines through larger than life with every word that you write. Your style, grace and sensitivity are something that we should all aspire towards. You can lift a person’s spirit with ease and you seem to create smiles everywhere you go. I think everyone here on 43 things will agree with me. Thank you for being our guardian angel here on 43things. You are truly unique and magical – and very much admired.

cool pic

Even before Globetrotter stopped by to say such nice things about me I admired her. In fact after setting a goal for myself to subscribe to people I wasn’t already familiar with, Globetrotter was the first person I subscribed to. And I have never looked back! ;)

I am always happy to see she’s written another entry on 43Things because I know I am going to be transported from my living room into another world. Her passion for life amazes me, you can tell she’s adventurous just by reading her goals. Before too long you realize she’s has a fierce determination and these goals will be checked off in no time at all; just in time to add a few new ones! At the same time that Globetrotter has an obvious love for travel you can tell she also loves people and strives to learn about the people and culture whose world she’s entered. Her stories about life and people are written with such clarity you feel as if you have personally met these people and been where she has. Only someone who knows how to remain quiet enough to really observe life and see the beauty in people could communicate this through their writing.

I admire her ability to have the courage to leave behind all the comforts, security and familiarity of not only her “home” but her family, in pursuit of her passion that couldn’t be quieted. In truth she hasn’t really left any of it “behind” and you can also hear in her writing her love for her family and appreciation of her roots.

Globetrotter also has an obvious love for music and has very cool and eclectic taste in all types of music and I really appreciate that quality.

MomWoolsey was one of the first to welcome me here on 43things. I have grown to admire her quite a bit over the summer. Family is obviously very important and her children mean the world to her. I love reading her entries and especially love to see that she is reliving her childhood along with her children. She has posted some wonderful entries about her own children and her childhood memories, and I feel as though I have found a kindred spirit, because it seems as though everything she writes about strikes a chord in me. I can’t help but be entranced with what she is going to write next. Not only does she nurture at home, she nurtures here on 43things. I want to meet the woman who has so many positive comments and kind words for everyone! She is encouraging and inspirational, she writes with style and grace. She is openly candid and frank; MomWoolsey questions and challenges. She makes me think about goals and issues that are important and that we should all take an interest in and work towards together. I especially like her goal about being a champion of one important cause that she is most passionate about and encourage others to do the same. Here is a woman who only wants to make the world a better place and I think we can all learn from her and follow her example. After all, she voices what we should all be thinking. When we all work together, we can make a difference.

Cause we the positive energy people need to team up and show our support for each other as much as possible, so that we continue to have enough motivation and energy to turn this planet into a better place to live in.