In the spirit of the New Year, and because Jason is at a New Year’s Eve prayer meeting at church (and because he also had to “work” at church on Christmas evening….and no, I am not a “willing missionary” right now), I am going to do something I have been meaning to do for a very long time. A post all ABOUT ME. You know, for all those folks who aren’t in my immediate family who might happen to swing by but not really know who I am. (“Hellooooo out there….Anyone? Anyone??”)
Let’s see….I grew up here, in Franklin County (population density 68/sq mi). Let’s have some describing words: rural, tobacco, farms, Appalachia, bluegrass, moonshine, redneck, country. My town was called Boones Mill. Boones Mill, people. Thankfully my parents weren’t complete hicks, so although I do say things like “windmeel” and “amb-you-lance”, I did not marry my first cousin. My family included a mom and dad (still married), a little sister, littler brother, one (or two) dogs, and one (or two) cats.
All kidding aside, it’s a beautiful place and I miss it a lot.
I left FC for college at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA (popoulation density 4,389/sq. mi.). WAHOO-WAH!!
When I graduated (2003) I had a B.Sc. in Biochemistry and a fiance from Vermont. That’s right folks, a Yankee boy.
Me and the Yankee boy (better known as Jason) had Plans involving China. These Plans were largely due to a short term trip Jason had taken to that very country during the summer after our third year at UVA. After we got married (also 2003) we stayed in Charlottesville to get ready for moving to Asia.
We hooked up with a small but very excellent organization called Global China Center. By all means, hop right on over to that website. Even if it means you don’t find out the rest of “about me”. (1) because it has a lot of great stuff, (2) to learn about a really cool organization, and (3) most importantly, to see the website Jason created. (He’s very talented, that husband of mine. He also made this website, which I also highly recommend if you are interested in learning about all the people historically who have impacted Christianity in China.)
So, we stayed in C’ville for two years working menial jobs and completing an internship with GCC that taught us things that would be useful for living overseas. Then in September of 2005 we moved to Taichung in Taiwan (population density 16,869/sq. mi.) Our purpose: full time Chinese language study. We did this for three years. During that time our daughter, Ellie was born. No real introduction needed, she’s a main feature of this blog. Also, I started this blog while we lived in Taichung. At that time our apartment was located on Far East Street, a most fitting name for my blog.
In the fall of 2008 we decided we had learned enough Chinese, at least formally, and Jason entered China Evangelical Seminary in Taipei, Taiwan (population density 24,965/sq. mi.) Our son Abram was born during our first year here. He’s also a regular feature on this blog.
We’re not in Boones Mill anymore.
Describing words? Crowded, dirty, polluted, international, friendly, fun, stylish, small, big, fast. It is also, currently, the home to the tallest building in the world: the Taipei 101.
In a nutshell…I think of myself as a Learner. I am learning how to live in a different place and operate in a different culture and communicate in a different language. At the same time I am learning how to be a mother. I think all of these things have a very steep learning curve with a lot of failure required. One word comes to mind: galvanizing. Basically, if I survive this I think I can make it through anything.
While I take almost all of the picture on this blog, I did not take any of the pictures in this post.
HAPPY 2010!
great post
also notable: you sister also didn’t marry her first cousin. though she did once (in 1st grade) have a crush on her second cousin (whoops).
you didn’t take the FC pics? where did you get them?
The pics are all from Flickr.