Introducing Myself - Life is an Adventure. Have Fun! 自我介紹

cheneats (56)in #introduceyourself • 7 years ago (edited)

Who am I
I ask myself
Am I in a butterfly’s dream?
(I pinch myself and it hurts.)
No, this is real - a real me.

The most famous of all Zhuangzi stories – "Zhuang Zhou Dreams of Being a Butterfly" 莊周夢蝶

A sunrise view from my garden

Some fun facts about me:

• No day is bad that has a walk in my garden to meditate and to enjoy nature.

• I was born, raised, and educated in Taiwan台灣, and after working there, I was educated in America, where I work now. When I meet someone for the first time, I am often asked, “Why do you choose to stay in the U.S.?” It doesn’t make much sense to live in a country with a language, culture, and people different from what you are most familiar with, right? More to follow on future posts about this, and Western vs. Eastern cultural comparisons/differences if you are interested.

• I am a 21st generation descendant of a Chinese ancestor who crossed the sea 700 years ago. When I was in college, my grandfather took me to visit the village where his father was born. I met my cousins, who ranged from the 17th generation all the way to the 23rd generation. It was amazing to me that there were 7 generations of my distant cousins living in the same village, and it was one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life.

• I speak three languages: English, Mandarin Chinese, and Taiwanese. My grandparents speak Japanese, not because they are Japanese but because Taiwan was a colony of Japan when they grew up. My parents speak Mandarin, but not Japanese nor English. Therefore, the only common language of our three generations is Taiwanese. It’s funny that the same generation can always ‘talk in private’ using a language only they know in a group setting. It’s more interesting now that my own family has added German, Greek, Latin, Spanish, and French to the mix.

• My version of a teenage rebellion was contemplating becoming a physicist instead of a physician - studying the whole universe vs. the human body.

• I grew up in the religions of Buddhism and Chinese folk religion, was educated in Confucianism and Taoism at school, and learned Christianity later on in life. In seeking the truth, I also explored Physics, Math, Literature, Philosophy, Art, History, Psychology, Sociology, and Cultural Anthropology.

• I converted my traditional landscape to a sustainable, regenerative, resilient, aesthetic, functional, and productive food forest garden orchard on my 0.4 acres suburban home site. We not only save thousands of dollars on food every year, but also eat the freshest and most nutritious food from our own garden. I did this by consciously designing landscapes which mimic the patterns and relationships found in nature while yielding an abundance of food. More to follow

• My family has a history of high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Nobody from my grandparents down to my generation except me is exempt from taking medication as early as in their 30s to upper 40s. My blood pressure and cholesterol tended to be high and the doctor had already recommended medication to me. What did I do to lower them back to normal and lose 25 lbs of weight naturally? More to follow

• My childhood hometown is Penghu 澎湖 (the Pescadores Islands), which has the most beautiful islands and the most amazing seafood. It is still a paradise for me even now. Below is a video made by a professional showing the beauty of my hometown.

To shorten this post I haven’t included details which are to be addressed at other times in other posts. You are invited to follow me on my adventure.

#gardening #homesteading #permaculture #ecotrain

7 years ago in #introduceyourself by cheneats (56)

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martinamartini (54) 7 years ago

Great and clear introduction and wonderful movie! I have a permaculture garden, too, and live very close to Sepp Holzer, one of the best known permaculture promoters... Have not introduced myself correctly yet, will do as soon as Christmas obligations permit. Following you!