I treasure each holiday greeting  that arrives in the mail, but each year there are fewer of them. This year I’ve decided to replace my Christmas mailing with an e-greeting and a blog post to update the many people who made 2012 a memorable year for me, my family and Terry Anzur Coaching Services.

Fight on! Andrew graduated from USC, then set his sights on Asia and Europe.

The highlight for our family was our son Andrew’s graduation from USC Marshall School of Business, magna cum laude and one of only a handful of global scholars. After an internship in Community Development in Thailand and Cambodia, he has moved on to grad school at the University of Wroclaw in Poland as a Rotary Ambassador scholar and will complete his master’s degree in global studies next year at the University of Vienna. He also claimed dual citizenship in Slovenia through ancestry, bringing the family full circle back to the homeland my grandparents left 100 years ago when it was part of the Austrian-Hungarian empire. We are so proud of Andrew as he becomes a true citizen of the world.

New friends from the Pakistan-US Journalism Exchange at the East-West Center in Hawaii.

My biggest adventure was traveling to Pakistan on a journalism exchange. I was one of six Americans who met our Pakistani colleagues at the East-West Center in Honolulu. While the Pakistanis visited Washington DC, New York City and the University of Missouri, the Americans traveled to Islamabad and Karachi. By the time we reunited in Honolulu to discuss our experiences, we shared the bond of realizing that our countries are much more than the stereotypes portrayed in the media. Yes, there were some scary moments like the day we were locked down due to local tensions in Karachi. However, I wish every American could experience the warm welcome we received throughout most of our journey in Pakistan. One of the hosts for our group invited Andrew to visit Pakistan and he was also received with kind hospitality.

Coaching one of the “Real Housewives of Orange County” in TV hosting skills.

Upon returning to the US, I appeared in an episode of “The Real Housewives of Orange County” as a talent coach for Alexis Bellino, an OC housewife with hopes of becoming a TV host. It was a rare chance to show a vast audience how talent coaching can help anyone develop the power performance skills needed to communicate in a multimedia video world. Most of the work I do is covered by confidentiality agreements, so I have to resist the urge to brag about my clients in TV news, program hosting and online video. It has been fun to celebrate their achievements in 2012 and I hope to earn their business again in 2013.

Our family travels took us to Park City, Utah, and San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua. My husband, Bill, enjoyed his first full year of retirement, but he couldn’t stay away from construction management. He renovated our downstairs with new floors and an updated guest room while Rolex (the dog) and I tried to stay out of the way. We said goodbye to our lovable mutt, Max, but welcomed five foster dogs from Silky Terrier Rescue who each found loving homes after a short stay with us. We’ll be cheering for the Stanford Cardinal in the Rose Bowl and wishing the Trojans a better season next year.

RIP Max, 1997-2012

The new year is off to a flying start as I head back to Maldives on a State Department grant to prepare journalists for the upcoming presidential election. When I get back, I’ll see you on the radio at KFI-AM 640 during my newscasts on the weekends. And I promise to kick your butt if you join me for a workout class at Gold’s Gym or 24 Hour fitness. Warm wishes to all for a festive holiday season and a happy new year!