2024 Year in Review

 

This year has brought so much that we can be thankful for. We have created several memories together. We have all grown and changed so much this year. The two little  Muggles have grown so tall that we have struggled to keep pants and shoes that fit! One of the good things about being in India is that shorts are a bit more forgiving for growing legs than pants are! We have traveled around the world and loved every moment of it! 

We welcomed 2024 with Disney in Hong Kong and we said farewell with Disney at Walt Disney World. 

We have laughed and we have cried. We have worked hard and accomplished new heights. We have overcome doubts and worries. We broke bones and we bled. Most of all we have loved being together. It has truly been a year to remember. 

Here are is our year in some quick statistics: 

- We lived in two different countries--USA and India
- We traveled to 4 different continents--North America, Asia, Europe, and Oceania
- We visited 11 US States--DC, WV, VA, MD, DE, UT, FL, HI, NJ, NY, and PA
- We visited 8 Indian States--Goa, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Hayarana, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, New Delhi, Tamil Nadu
- We traveled to 8 Countries--USA, India, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, France, UAE,  and Hong Kong 

- We survived 3 rounds of Chemo treatments

- We made said goodbye to good friends and made new friends

- We (the two Muggles) made a viral video playing the piano

- We cheered on the USA at the Summer Olympics in Paris

Here is a brief summary of our time this year. You can find detailed blogs on all of the stories under the options on the right column of the blog Home page. 

JANUARY

In January we went to Hong Kong to rind in the new year. It was the first time that Lady Hiva had been there. Last time the Muggles and I went we had to stay in the hotel for the week because of the HUGE typhoon that arrived while we were there. We loved exploring the park together. Then we spent several days enjoying Hong Kong and all it offers--food, shopping, and culture!

We decided to make a quick trip later in the month to see the "Golden Triangle" in India. This included Jaipur, Agra (Taj Mahal), and New Delhi. It was an amazing trip. We were so glad that we did it. Seeing the Taj Mahal in person is an indescribable experience. 

FEBRUARY 

The end of January, all of February and most of March I was doing chemo treatments. I stayed inside with windows closed for the entire time that I was doing chemo. So thankful for technology so I could work and have contact from the outside world while I was healing. 

MARCH

Pluba came to India to visit while I was doing Chemo. It was good to have her there. We all loved having her see where we live. She was able to experience India first hand. 

After 3 months of being trapped inside in the dark, we decided to go on a post-chemo treatment trip. Lady Hiva wanted to go to Japan to see the Sakura Blossoms for her birthday. However, tickets were so expensive! So we found cheap tickets to Australia and New Zealand. It became one of our favorite trips of all time! We cannot wait to go back. All of us hope that we will get a chance to live in either of those countries some day. 

APRIL

April was eventful. Koala Bear was doing her favorite past-time (climbing) and broke her arm. We were introduced to the depths of the Indian healthcare system! That was an enlightening experience. 

Lucky Dragon did a capstone project on the UN Sustainable Development Goals. He chose to do it on cleaning the ocean and ridding ourselves of single-use plastics. It was actually a really cool experience to see the fishing villages of Mumbai and watch Lucky Dragon talk about sustainable fishing with the villagers. 

MAY

During May we were all busy with school and work. But we made a really quick trip to Dubai. It was so great to be in a place with amazing shopping and all the amenities of a global city! We spent our days outside at the pool, the beach, or inside in one of the various activities of the city. 

Lady Hiva had a work trip to Gujarat and I had a work trip to Chennai. It was a good way to see other parts of the country. 

JUNE

June found us in Japan! This was the trip Lady Hiva had wanted to take in March, but the tickets were less than half the price in June. So off we went. This too, was such a memorable experience. We all loved Japan. The food, the people, the culture, the cleanliness!

We spent several days exploring Tokyo and then a few days going to Tokyo Disney. Both had so many great things to experience. 

Then we took the bullet train to Kyoto. It was fun to see the countryside from the train. We LOVED Kyoto! It was everything that we all love. Green trees, outdoor spaces, good food, and plenty to see and do! None of us wanted to go home to India after our time was done in Japan. 

JULY

July was our last month living in India. It brought so many big emotions. We were excited for our new adventure, but extremely sad to leave friends. Our month was full of spending as much time with friends as possible. Both Muggles made such amazing friends while we were here. 

We made one more within India trip to Goa. It was a trip we kept putting off because it was so close. But we promised one of our good friends we would go take photos of the place she was born and lived before she was adopted by a family in Utah. It was a quick trip--and not really our favorite, but we crossed it off the list! 

Lucky Dragon and Koala Bear were asked to play a famous Hindi song honoring India for Indian Independence day. The US Consulate in Mumbai made a video of it and the video went viral! We were so proud of them they practiced nearly all day for two weeks to prepare. They were champions!

It was so hard to say goodbye to such dear friends. We were so blessed to have them all in our lives. 

AUGUST

In August we had an eventful month! We started out in France for the Paris Olympics. This was one of the highlights of our year. (so many to choose from). We cheered until we could not even talk. We would do it again in a heartbeat. 

We then spent time in Florida re-engaging ourselves in USA culture. It was hot and sweaty, but we loved it. We had a short stint in Utah  where Koala Bear decided to go to the hospital again. This time from falling off a horse that was running and she was covered with road rashes. Thankfully, nothing more serious was done. Then we went back to DC for school to start. 

SEPTEMBER

We loved being in Washington, DC. Thankfully, there are plenty of friends for the two Muggles. We have loved being with old friends from previous times living here. The schools are amazing, we have spent as much time as possible outside and we love it all. 



OCTOBER

October was full of Autumn activities. We went to 'pumpkin patches, drank apple cider, picked apples, and all of the fun activities that we love about being in the USA for autumn. 

We also made a few trips to the beach. One trip to Virginia Beach and another to Rehoboth Beach in Delaware. They are not home, but it is still the beach and we all love it. 

I started another round of chemo this month. That, too, was a bummer. I was hoping that I was done, but they felt that I needed another round. I am hoping that this round the end. But we will see. 

October also brought another trip from Papa and Pluba. The Muggles liked having them here during Halloween. I did not make it out much during Halloween because of the chemo treatments, but it was still fun to see all the photos of the family enjoying it. Koala Bear performed with her choir at the city Halloween event. It was fun to watch her be so excited to sing. 

NOVEMBER

The November highlight was our trip to New York City after Thanksgiving to watch Wicked on Broadway. It was a much better experience in New York than last time right after COVID. We all had a good time. 

DECEMBER

The last month of the year we did all things Christmas! It was a packed month. We baked bread, we bought gifts. We made gifts. We made cookies. We spent time with friends. We attended concerts and we did service. It was a perfect holiday season. 

Trans-Siberian Orchestra Holiday Concert. 

The US Navy Band Christmas Special Concert.

Lucky Dragon and Koala Bear were the background music for the city holiday event. Again, I was so proud of them for sharing their talents. Lucky Dragon did a concert with his saxophone. He started to play this year and is doing amazing. 

We went to the Harry Potter's Forbidden Forest event here in Virginia. It was so great to experience it. 

It was truly an amazing year. Yes, it was hard. Yes, there were things that we never imagined, but we did it. Such a great year. Now we are ready for the adventure ahead! 

Holidays with Castles and Mice!

The day after Christmas we flew out in the morning to Florida. We knew that it was the busiest week of the year to be at the parks in Orlando, but we do not have many weeks during training that we can leave. So off we went! We had so much fun. Yes, it was crowded, but we made the best of it. 

At the end of the week, we all had so many memories and stories to tell. Last year we rang in the New Year at Hong Kong Disneyland. This year we did it at Disney World!

Lucky Dragon was so excited to see how the cleaners would rearrange their stuffies every time they cleaned. He liked this one of them going on a "water slide."

We really like the Tiana ride. Yes, it is a change from Splash Mountain. But the theming was done really well and the music is fun. It is always a laugh as we watch the two Muggles struggle to not get wet. 

On New Year's Eve we were in the Park until 0100h. 

Koala Bear was tired throughout the end of the New Years Eve. So we went to Carousel of Progress and we rode it three times while she napped. That hour nap gave her the energy to make it for the rest of the night! 

We happened to ride Tiana's ride at the time of fireworks It was such a beautiful experience. We were able to watch from the lazy log ride as the fireworks boomed over the castle. 

At one point the day before New Years, we came out of a show at the same time as another show finished. The effect was thousands of people making a sea of sweat smelling people! It was about then we decided we were done with the parks for that day. 

Lucky Dragon and Koala Bear both made a robot so they can play with them together. It was fun to watch them choose parts and build the robot. 

We wore our Potatoland t-shirts. We had many people comment on them as we walked through the park. The Muggles were so excited to wear them because they love the new "old school style" Mickey Shorts. 

We rode Tower of Terror with the famed TJ! 

Sometimes it is the small details around the Walt Disney Resort that we love. Simple things done really well for us to enjoy. Lucky Dragon was so happy to see the Hidden Mickey made of coins. 

Many of the evenings we watched movies at the hotel or spent time at the pool. Just relaxing time to be together. 

Disney gets their theming right. Lady Hiva and I both laughed at the Animal Kingdom areas themed like India and Nepal. So many details were close to reality. These signs were hidden gems that made us chuckle. We especially liked the "fixed rate" sign and another next to it that read "Special price for tourists" 

We had to make our way the the Polynesian resorts a few times. Usually to eat. It is fun that at this point all of the Polynesians that work there recognize us and come to say hello! Lady Hiva loves it there. It is her self-proclaimed "favorite hotel in the world." We loved that they added a new art piece of framed Tongan Tapa Cloth on the wall.  

 

Character meals are some of our favorite parts of being at the resort. We get to spend time with the characters without the long lines and other pushy people. 

The favorite sign in all of Disney! 

These two are hiding to try and not get wet on Tiana's ride

Spot the hidden squirrel! 

We made the stop in the Coca-Cola store to try all the sodas from around the world. Some were good, others were NASTY. 

It was such a perfect way to start the year. We were so happy to do it. We were all a bit sad to leave and head home. But we now have another year  of adventures ahead.