There’s No Place Like Home
From as far back as I can remember, people have often asked me where I am from. And for good reason. I was born in the Philippines to an American father and a Filipino mother, but moved around quite a lot when I was a kid. From Massachusetts to South Dakota to Guam and then New Jersey, I’ve always felt like there wasn’t one place I could call home. I even lived in upstate New York for a while, but now I live in Frankfurt, Germany. And yes, people still ask me where I’m from. Looking back at all the places I’ve lived, as well as all the places I’ve visited, I’d like to say that I’m a child of the world. A global being. I might even say “Earthling” though that might make people look at me strangely.
Pieces of Me
So who am I, you might ask. Or you won’t, but I’m going to tell you anyway. People are usually defined by what they do. I’m a wife, mother of two, and a writer. I used to be an executive assistant to a benefits consulting firm when we lived in New Jersey, but when we moved to Germany, I didn’t have the German language skills to acquire a job in the same field. I did work as a receptionist for an American company here, but then I got pregnant with my first child and decided to be a stay-at-home mom. Now my kids are grown enough that they don’t need me 24 hours a day, so I work as an English teacher at a private multi-lingual nursery school. So, between my home, my husband, my two children, working full time, writing, and blogging, I have a lot on my plate. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. Except for one day being able to drop the full-time job because of my writing success. *wink*
The Creator in Me
One thing I have learned about myself is this: if I’m not creating something, I do not feel like I am living. Ever since childhood, the one constant thing in my life was my passion to do something creative. Whether it was drawing or writing or singing or learning arts and crafts, I always felt more alive when my hands and mind were busy. My craving to write stayed with me through the years. I even penned a few scripts that I made my kids (and their friends) act out, polishing the whole thing out with a movie editor on my computer and burning DVDs for friends and family. There’s a short skit I uploaded to youtube of a scripted battle between my son and daughter (they were two and four at the time), to give you an idea of how my twisted mind works.
And now, after years of polishing my skills, researching how the publishing industry works, and making connections via online networking, I’m happy to finally be headed in the right direction toward my life-long dream. I’m happy. I’m excited. Because I’m doing the thing that makes me feel I’m alive!
