From January to December, this year gave me some of the biggest challenges, triumphs, sorrows, and joys I’ve ever experienced.  Below are ten moments that changed my world in 2011 (in chronological order).

1.  My giant extended family in America helped me open a library in a rural Cambodian village.

2.  My Thompson grandfather, “Gramps”, died.

3.  More than 4,000 baby crocodiles were born on my host family’s farm in my backyard.

4.  Cambodian military convoys stopped in front of my house on their way to the border clash between Cambodia and Thailand.  This Spring the decades-long dispute was the deadliest it’s been in recent years.

5.  My cousin, Katie got married. 

6.  I helped teach a girls’ club for six months.  It ended with a provincial-wide girls’ health camp that I planned with two other volunteers.

7.  I saw my family once this year.  This picture with them was taken moments after I landed in the United States for a quick visit.

8.  Cambodia’s worst flooding in more than decade devastated the country, forced me to evacuate Puok, and at one point, had me riding boats near my house.

9.  The Khmer Rouge second-in-command, Nuon Chea, was questioned for the first time ever about his role in planning the genocide that left 2,000,000 Cambodians dead between 1975 and 1979.

10.  The newest Thompson, Piper, was born into this crazy, awesome, painful and amazing world.

Here’s to  a great 2012!  I hope the new year brings amazing things to you and your family.