Hi readers. I suppose I should unveil this person I am and let you guys in a little more. I tend to just give you a glimpse of my life and to mask the rest with anecdotes and metaphors. But it’s a new year and my college roommate inspired me to do a Q&A to better inform you of who I am. So here it goes.

 

Why do you write?

Because I love it. Writing to me is a sixth sense, a way in which I can feel and process my emotions and navigate through life’s circumstances in the most comfortable way. Also I love to publish my writing and to give readers a way to see life differently. Life involves perspective, and writing allows me to put a new perspective on every day things.

 

What do you enjoy writing most?

Blogs posts about racial identity and cultural differences. But recently I’ve written a lot about death because I lost a best friend back in October. I do write some fiction, mostly short stories. The novel I’m working on depicts a student journalist exploring her racial identity and the issues of immigration in France. It was inspired by my time in Europe as a college student. I’m not sure I’ll ever submit it for publication but it’s a fun project to work on.

 

What do you read most often?

The news. I’m a communications specialist so I constantly try to keep up with the media. I generally read The Washington Post, The New York Times, and The New Yorker. I also read blogs and newsletters. As for books, I’m gravely embarrassed to call myself a writer because I don’t read a lot of books, but I do love the classics.

 

Favorite book?

To Kill a Mockingbird.

 

Favorite blog?

I read Relevant Magazine sometimes and a few months ago I came across a blogger named Ethan Renoe. He’s super relatable in his writing and he’s a deep thinker. He writes about Christian living in the 21st century and the common struggles of young people. Also Ana Harris’s blog is great. She writes about recovering from Lyme’s disease and pursuing healthy living.

 

Favorite word?

I don’t know. I have trouble with this question. Can I use a French word? “Formidable”. It means “wonderful”.

Or maybe a Korean word “Moegja”. It means “let’s eat” and carries with it a lot of memories of eating Korean food with my college friends.

An English word? Probably “Coffee” no explanation needed.

 

Most used app?

Generally Instagram. Guilty Millenial.

 

Top track right now?

King’s Kaleidoscope, Joy Has Dawned. It’s a Christmas album but worth a listen. The song “All Glory Be to Christ” is my favorite.

 

If you could travel to any place in the world, where would you go?

This is difficult. There are too many places, and choosing one would be so unfair to all my friends who live around the world. Also, after a three week vacation in Paris–by my self–I learned that it’s not where you go that makes an experience great, it’s who you go with. So I’d probably go to South Africa with my brothers and sisters. Trouble is, I have nine of them so don’t ask me to narrow that down.

 

Dream job?

Foreign Relations officer. Yeah I’m doing my Masters right now in Public Management. I would love to work for the United Nations and be an Ambassador. Where to? Probably East Africa or East Asia.

 

Book character you relate to most?

Honestly it’s hard to say, because I’m a biracial female Christian. How many books depict this type of character? But I sort of relate to the protagonist in Americanah, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. It’s a great story about culture shock and the experience of living in another country.

 

Movie/TV show character?

Jim Halpert. I generally feel like the only sane person in my office that’s trying to find humor in everyday life.

 

Celebrity crush?

Right now it’s Kumail Nanjiani after I watched The Big Sick. And how often do you see a person of color taking the lead role in a movie? He’s super funny but I have to admit, not all of his humor is clean.

 

Favorite activity?

Baking and playing music. And no, I’m not a Stay-At-Home mom. But these two activities are what I call my “back to joy” activities. When I’m down I play music to lift myself up.

 

iPhone or Android?

iPhone.  My Dad has always been a Mac guy so naturally our whole family conformed. Except for my brother-in-law. We’re still working on him.

 

Flying or sailing?

Is it weird to say I’d be a pilot if I could? I love flying so much it’s probably a little strange. I took a 16 hour flight from Indy to Seoul and loved every minute of it — well maybe not the last three hours. But for some reason I love being up in the air with the clouds and the sunshine.

 

Favorite season?

Spring, my birthday season, and all the flowers.

 

Mountains or beaches?

Beaches. They’re so therapeutic and also they’re how I picture heaven will be.

 

Go-to Starbucks drink?

I used to be a SB barista so I kind of got tired of all the fancy drinks. Now I just go with a grande dark roast with room. I know, kind of boring.

 

Best advice you’ve ever heard?

Great minds talk about ideas, average minds talk about events, and small minds talk about people.

– Eleanor Roosevelt