When I was asked to become a blogger for The Feather Online, I was both flattered and, to be honest, surprised. My first instinct was to refuse the offer—I never saw myself as someone who was capable of writing anything that could be published.

However, there is a desire in me to write, to record, to communicate through these bouncing letters that turn out to be a lively picture in my head. So I took on the challenge so that I could have the chance to tell you what I think and what I like and most essentially, who I am.

For those of you who know my story, you shouldn’t be bored to hear it one more time. I was born and raised in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China, and I moved to America for high school a couple of years ago. Just as the title ‘International Student’ should imply, my childhood was infused by different cultures, religions and languages brought by relatives and friends from China, Canada, the United States, New Zealand, Korea and Australia.

Needless to say, it was also adventurous and joyous with the amazing memories of all the traveling we did as a family. These extraordinary experiences shaped me to be who I am as a cultivated-minded person. I enjoy skiing for the excitement and pleasure that speed brings. I was a ballerina for over 10 years, which was a passionate and interesting journey of tears, sweat, injuries and an exceptional sense of achievement. I play the violin, which I learned because I was so in love with Sherlock Holmes that I just wanted to be like him.

I read, as you assume, an activity done in the beginning merely for the pleasure of owning tons of books but turned into a where-do-all-these-books-come-from situation. I create watercolor paintings, probably because it’s the form of painting that allows the painter to mess up and go with the flow yet turns out “artistic”.

I love science, in which lies the wonder of God’s creation and all the sneaky details He didn’t tell you about in the Bible. I love nature, because for whatever reasons trees just make me feel better at the moment. You see, I can tell you about all the things you know or didn’t know about myself because of this opportunity to write an article to be published, what about the others?

There are so many people that you encounter every day, but do you know them? There are so many things that happen to you every day, but do you know what’s really happening?

I always thought that if our lives were to be recorded as TV shows, they would be even more dramatic than those in existence. Since there are so many things to it, what else is better to write about than life?

So there you have it, a blog dedicated those who are part of my life: the people I cherish and love, the people I wish to know better, the people I don’t know at all. The things I find funny, absurd, weird, boring; what I think you should know and what I think you want to know….

Let it be a blog that shares feelings and optimism in life. Let it be a blog that tells you a little more about who he or she is. Let it be a blog that explains some things to you. Let it be a blog that you find totally boring but can’t help smiling reading. Let it be a blog that brings you joy, and more so to me.

God has put wonderful people in my life and made me experience what a lot of the others don’t get to experience. With passion and eagerness, I wish to show you the world as I see it. Join me on the journey as a foreigner, a friend, a student, a goofy person, a smart person, or even as a stranger, to discover some of the things that are so enchanting but are so often neglected, and to meet some of the people that have shown such kindness and such outstanding talents.

My name is Joey, nice to meet you.

I would love to hear what you have to say and what you want to know, please leave a comment below and engage in a conversation together!

This author can be reached via email: Joey Huang. She can be found twice a month in The Feather Online blog section.