Yes, There's More To Know About Me-- And You Didn't Have To Ask!

My first blog post! Woah. Is anyone reading? For my first blog post, I wanted to go more in depth about who I am and what I have envisioned for this blog. I will argue that I am a pretty interesting person-- but incase that doesn't persuade you to keep reading more about me, then I've already published some other reads that could use some internet traffic on, so go and click on those.

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Where should I start? It seems like I have the whole world right at my fingertips, right about now. I guess I'll get the elephant out of the room, I am adopted from China! I called it the 'elephant out of the room' because it's the most coolest fact about me. Now if you're adopted from China too, which I haven't met many in person-- yet, I know they're out there... don't get offended. For me, telling someone I was adopted from China has always been an ice breaker when it comes to meeting someone new. Apart from saying hello, it's like the only fact that screams out at me to share with them right off the bat. Could be a little forward or intrusive, but there's a more personal side to why it's always felt like the first thing I should share.

When I was young I was very much embarrassed about the fact that I was adopted from China. I'm guessing it's because the word "adopted" has a negative connotation to it. I remember being ashamed of how I looked, the fact that I was the one who made up the "1% of Asian/Pacific Islander" for my school's demographics (go ahead and laugh--I know I am), my middle name, and even when the counselor at my Elementary school came on the announcements to share that we were having "Asian Chicken Salad" for lunch that day, I made sure not to make eye contact with any of my classmates. Yeah. It was that bad. Making friends was easy though, always has been really. But since I was embarrassed on where I came from, I felt the need to get the "elephant out of the room" that I was adopted. Because then, that person could decide if I was weird or if they wanted to be friends with me. I know, it's sad. Growing up, I started to realize that I wasn't all that different. I had in common with my sister that we both were adopted! As one should, she was always never ashamed of where she came from, how she looked, or her middle name. I have always admired that about her.

I started hearing about more people who had been adopted-- maybe not so much all the way from China, but I definitely had no clue that I was surrounded by many others who were adopted, too. The more I started to grow up and travel, the more my embarrassment started to go away. I started to realize how much of a great and beautiful thing diversity was and still is. I looked at the bigger picture, which was the fact that I was adopted into a family that was and still is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. My mom is a pastor and very much so connected with the Methodist Church and teaches in children education. My sister is the hardest working person I know. I give much credit to Rachel, for where my drive and motivation toward the things I'm passionate about comes from. Without them, I wouldn't be the person I am today-- which is crazy to think that I still have so much room to grow.

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I've lived 18 years of life so far and that's enough time to experience moving away from lifelong friends, getting fired from my first job, and getting arrested... just kidding I haven't gotten arrested. Or have I? I don't know, keep up with my blog to find out.

Elizabeth QinXiao Van Deusen