Well, I got nominated for a blog award in which I am supposed to share some details about myself. I am also supposed to pass it on to someone else. I checked back to a post I wrote about the blogs I follow, and I think about 90% of them are now defunct, though there are still a few of you hanging in there!
Anyway, I do want to give a shout out to a new blog, authored by my sister, where she writes about "balancing family life and art." Lots of ideas for parenting toddlers. Check it out: Seeking to Create.
So, here are the questions from the blog award, with my answers.
1) I'm an introvert! Let this serve as a warning that I'm horrible at introducing myself.
2) In third grade, I was nominated “future novelist.” I lied and said I knew what the word meant, and then finally I had to ask the teacher. I haven't written any novels, but in those days I suppose they couldn't have predicted that I'd become a blogger!
3) I’m third oldest of seven children.
4) 2 of my sisters were adopted from Russia
5) One brother lives in Africa (currently Lesotho) and I traveled to Kinshasa, DRC for his wedding. So you can imagine that family reunions are difficult to pull off!
6) I had a crush on my husband for 6 years before he asked me out.
7) I’ve played the flute since I was 10.
8) I started visiting Russia when I was 14, that’s over half my life!
9) I grew up in Northampton, Massachusetts
10) I’ve never had a driver’s license
11) I have a BA in Russian Studies and a minor in Studio Art.
And here are the new questions that Stephanie chose for me:
1. When did you start blogging, and why? I started in 2007. I wanted to record some snippets of daily life to keep family/friends informed. It’s hard to continually explain to different people what life is like in another country. A lot of details of life are the same, and then there are differences. Regularly posting some observations on daily life feels more natural and is accompanied by less pressure than composing a fancy newsletter.
2. Describe yourself in one sentence. Can I use semi-colons? ;) If people could know one thing about me, I would want them to know that I’m a follower of Jesus.
3. If money was no concern, what would your dream vacation be? I don’t have specific dreams, but lately I have been thinking about London.
4. What's your ideal way of spending a Saturday? Mostly nesting, but maybe taking a short walk to get some fresh air if the weather is nice.
5. What's your go-to lunch? Homemade soup and an open-faced sandwich, then tea.
6. Fiction or non-fiction? What do I actually read or what do I think I should read? In general I like biographical/historical topics. I look for interesting biographies, especially if tied to a specific historical period, but sometimes I end up reading fluffy historical fiction.
7. You have a pet lizard. What's his name? Bo-bo. First thing that came to my mind. But in truth, Lizard is what people call ME.
8. When did you become a Christian? I was a conscious believer by age 5 or so and experienced genuine repentance.
9. What are you afraid of? I thought it would be silly to write that I’m afraid of the dark, but then I noticed that the person that nominated me admitted to it, so I will join her. :) Abandonment, being trapped, etc. Oh, and spiders.
10. Funny memory. Broad topic! Well, I probably have many from when I first moved to Russia and was making faux pas (what’s the plural?) all the time. For example, I got on a bus and bumped into Andrei, whom I had met twice before, and it turned out we were getting off at the same stop (and our buildings were even next to each other). The bus stopped and Andrei got off and I thought it was rude that he didn’t wait for me. Come to find out he had gone ahead to help me off! Oh, those Russian men! I didn’t even know what to do with his proffered hand.
11. What's your favorite season, and why? Spring! New life, expectation of changes, long-awaited rewards, daylight, fresh air, picnics, and my birthday, at the tail-end.
Anyway, I do want to give a shout out to a new blog, authored by my sister, where she writes about "balancing family life and art." Lots of ideas for parenting toddlers. Check it out: Seeking to Create.
So, here are the questions from the blog award, with my answers.
11 "random" facts that you may or may not know about me
1) I'm an introvert! Let this serve as a warning that I'm horrible at introducing myself.
2) In third grade, I was nominated “future novelist.” I lied and said I knew what the word meant, and then finally I had to ask the teacher. I haven't written any novels, but in those days I suppose they couldn't have predicted that I'd become a blogger!
3) I’m third oldest of seven children.
4) 2 of my sisters were adopted from Russia
5) One brother lives in Africa (currently Lesotho) and I traveled to Kinshasa, DRC for his wedding. So you can imagine that family reunions are difficult to pull off!
6) I had a crush on my husband for 6 years before he asked me out.
7) I’ve played the flute since I was 10.
8) I started visiting Russia when I was 14, that’s over half my life!
9) I grew up in Northampton, Massachusetts
10) I’ve never had a driver’s license
11) I have a BA in Russian Studies and a minor in Studio Art.
And here are the new questions that Stephanie chose for me:
1. When did you start blogging, and why? I started in 2007. I wanted to record some snippets of daily life to keep family/friends informed. It’s hard to continually explain to different people what life is like in another country. A lot of details of life are the same, and then there are differences. Regularly posting some observations on daily life feels more natural and is accompanied by less pressure than composing a fancy newsletter.
2. Describe yourself in one sentence. Can I use semi-colons? ;) If people could know one thing about me, I would want them to know that I’m a follower of Jesus.
3. If money was no concern, what would your dream vacation be? I don’t have specific dreams, but lately I have been thinking about London.
4. What's your ideal way of spending a Saturday? Mostly nesting, but maybe taking a short walk to get some fresh air if the weather is nice.
5. What's your go-to lunch? Homemade soup and an open-faced sandwich, then tea.
6. Fiction or non-fiction? What do I actually read or what do I think I should read? In general I like biographical/historical topics. I look for interesting biographies, especially if tied to a specific historical period, but sometimes I end up reading fluffy historical fiction.
7. You have a pet lizard. What's his name? Bo-bo. First thing that came to my mind. But in truth, Lizard is what people call ME.
8. When did you become a Christian? I was a conscious believer by age 5 or so and experienced genuine repentance.
9. What are you afraid of? I thought it would be silly to write that I’m afraid of the dark, but then I noticed that the person that nominated me admitted to it, so I will join her. :) Abandonment, being trapped, etc. Oh, and spiders.
10. Funny memory. Broad topic! Well, I probably have many from when I first moved to Russia and was making faux pas (what’s the plural?) all the time. For example, I got on a bus and bumped into Andrei, whom I had met twice before, and it turned out we were getting off at the same stop (and our buildings were even next to each other). The bus stopped and Andrei got off and I thought it was rude that he didn’t wait for me. Come to find out he had gone ahead to help me off! Oh, those Russian men! I didn’t even know what to do with his proffered hand.
11. What's your favorite season, and why? Spring! New life, expectation of changes, long-awaited rewards, daylight, fresh air, picnics, and my birthday, at the tail-end.
I am so envious of your life..I would love to move to Russia. It is not possible as I am single with 2 adopted daughters from Khabarovsk and Novosibirsk, and most employers cannot pay me enough to afford international schooling..I dream of Khabarovsk all the time. I adore the Russian Far East. I would love to work at a Church and teach English to young children..Dreams huh?
ReplyDeleteBless you, Julianne! I suppose it does get hard when you are responsible for two youngsters. You can't just accept any job in order to trek around the world. I can certainly think of teaching opportunities that are out there but family life requires a certain level of stability. Don't give up on your dream, though. Maybe it will come true in some form!
DeleteThanks for participating, Elizabeth, loved this post and getting to know you better!
ReplyDeleteWe're both from families with seven children, although I'm the second oldest. I would love to hear the whole story about how you and Andrei met and how God brought you together - how neat that you liked him for 6 years previous!
Aren't big families fun? It seems that some of your siblings are still quite young. Our age range spans from 36-24. However, the Russian sisters are right between my youngest brothers in age.
DeleteI will share the story at some point. It is a great story of faith. Some details are personal but God certainly deserves the glory for bringing us together.
This was so fun to read...so, here's a question...when did hubby start to like you?
ReplyDeleteTruly enjoyed reading all of your info!!
Thanks! I believe the answer is: long after I became interested, yet long before we actually went on our first date.
DeleteIt was fun to read - how much I already knew and a few things I didn't! Believe it or now, I am an introvert too! Because I do a lot of public speaking people don't think thats true, but my underlying personality is totally introverted. I would read and write all day if I could. Which means that blogs (my own and others that I like, like yours) are both a blessing and a danger zone!!!) Congrats on winning an award
ReplyDeleteThat is interesting to know! That explains why we have connected more in writing than in person! I wonder how it has played a role in your mothering experience? Oh yes, all this reading and writing is quite time-consuming. It's 1 am here, but I so needed to unwind by myself.
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