A short biography

This is a short summary of the twenty-seven years I have spent on this planet – giving you some background to where my philosophies and theories are coming from.

1982

I was born at 630am on 6 July 1982 during the longest Luna Eclipse of the 20th century. That makes me a Cancer and a Dog, which do tend to describe me quite accurately, and the Luna Eclipse, well, I’m not sure if that has any significance but it’s pretty cool.

1982-1984

I spent my first two years in Jakarta, Indonesia and traveling the world. The adventurous nature of my Dutch mum and Aussie dad seeded in me a passion for travel and I think the lovely Indonesian ladies who looked after me as a baby probably seeded in me a love for people and cultures.

1984- 1999

Returning to Sydney my sister was born and I spent the next 15 years in a Northern Beaches suburb attending a small Christian school five minutes from my house. I excelled at my HSC (94 UAI!) but I don’t feel as if I learned all that much.

1999- 2002

At 17 (the youngest in my grade) I followed my Dad’s advice and went straight to the closest university to my house and for the next three years I completed by Bachelor of Business (Distinction!) but again, with majors in Marketing and IT, I really didn’t feel I learned that much.

2002- 2004

I was 20 when I finished uni and after a couple of years working and saving I left Australia to “see the world”.

2004-2005

After a short holiday in Thailand I landed in Japan where I stayed for the year and a half that followed. Here I taught English, “acted” in TV shows, short films & commercials, and did my first on-stage parade – in lingerie!

This was a dream come true. When hairdressers turned my hair yellow, green and purple I shaved it off and was surprised when this opened an opportunity to further my dreams – in PARIS!

2006

I modeled in Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Italy, Spain, and LA. And in-between jobs I traveled around, met wonderful people and gained a new perspective and appreciation for life.

Feeling homesick for family, mangoes, beaches and everything else that comes with the Australian summer I made a rash decision: I canceled my 1 year plans for Europe, canceled my return trip to Tokyo, and booked a ticket home, turning up on mum’s doorstep on Christmas Eve.

2007

With an apartment in Tokyo and modeling agencies awaiting my return in Europe, I had some decisions to make. My Dad was in my ear with the typical fatherly “time to get a real job” speech and approaching 25 years old I (nearing retirement age for models) I had a quarter-life crisis and thought for a moment he was right. Selling advertising space for fashion magazines sounded like a good job that involved both but at the interviewer it was one little comment the interviewer made that changed my life. He said, “And you know what the BEST thing about this job is? When you see the digits on your bank statement!!!” He said it with such enthusiasm. My insides curdled and I knew it wasn’t for me. But if not this, then what?

Photography? Fitness instructing? That would be a good life. My grandfather (91 years old) had a fall and I offered to move in as I “skilled up” as I called it. I assisted some fashion photographers, did part-time modeling in Sydney and became a qualified pilates instructor. I also got lost on wikipedia and in library books – teaching myself the things I’d either forgotten from my schooling, or never been taught. I was teaching myself a lot about science, history and religion – revisiting my childhood “faith” in the Christian doctrines, trying to reconcile it with my developing understanding and experience with the peoples and cultures of the world.

2008-2009

Realising I was never going to join the corporate world (much to my Dad’s disappointment) I took the time to go back to university and skill up more formally. Then I came across ”Peace and Conflict Studies” at Sydney Uni, applied for a MA which I did leisurely over the two years, making use of uni holidays to travel South America last Christmas, which I am using to write a book about travel, life, love and contemplating the future.

2010 and beyond

I love learning so much that I submitted a PhD proposal on the Narratology of Peace approved to start mid-year. Yeah, I might be a bit crazy. But you gotta aim for the stars!

Through this blog I hope to share this spiritual, mental and physical journey I continue along in my quest for peace and understanding about myself and my place in the universe – traveling, researching, thinking and creating. I thank you for sharing my journey and I hope to share your journey too.