Finally, it's up!

A little bit bout me is probably the best place to start. I grew up in Malaysia and lived there til I was 15. I then moved to Australia for 4 yrs, 3 of which were spent in boarding school. And before you start forming ideas in your head about what it was like, I'll help you out. They were the best 3 yrs I have had so far, meeting knew people, learning about a new culture, growing up and just loving life.

After boarding school, I was adament about staying in Melb and not moving to NZ but obviously that didn't quite work out-the Lord had other plans and I had to give in. I finally moved across the Tasman and took half a year off while I sorted out life in NZ. I'm currently living in Auckland, NZ with my family. Am in my second year of a Diploma in Culinary Arts aka Chef School. I finish this diploma about June next year. What am I gonna do when I finish is a question on God can answer.

The passions in my life, in this exact order....God/church, gymnastics & anything relating to food-this includes slaving over the stove for hours! Call me crazy, I know! But I find it very therapeutic...

Gym. I was a gymnast for 15 yrs. Started as an extra curricular activity and ended being a sport I absolutely love and competed in it for 10yrs. Because I love the sport so much I have taken up coaching the sport as well so that I can pass on my love of the sport to others. And just to put into context how much I love the sport, I would eat sleep talk gym 24/7. And I am serious-just ask my room mate from boarding school. She'll tell you that I'm not lying. I have stopped trainning which is a bummer but as you get older I guess you've just gotta learn to let things go...I still coach though.

Food. I have ALWAYS loved food for as long as I can remember. I also remember being a real pest in the kitchen when I was younger but I guess that's a good clue that I was meant to do what I'm doing. Growing up in Malaysia, you are spoilt for choice and quality when it comes to food so growing up there probably added to my love for it. Cooking has been in the family for a long time now so how fitting but be a chef. I just love playing with the ingredients and turning each ingredient to look nothing like what it originally did but still taste like what it's meant to taste like. Ahh......the joys of food. The satisfaction you get from knowing that you created something that will in turn satisfy someone else is something that makes cooking for people so enjoyable.

God. I was born into a Christian home but never really took it seriously til I was about 14. I decided I would get my life straight and got baptised. It was going alright but in hindsight, I never really understood a lot of what was going on. So when I left for Australia I went off the tracks. Don't worry...I didn't do drugs and get drunk etc but I was church hopping, trying very hard to look for a place to call home. But that didn't seem to work out and I just gave up and didn't give much thought bout God. It was like that til bout Jan this yr. So moving to NZ hasn't been all bad. I've found a church that I love and, without any reservations, call home. I'm invovled in 2 ministries which I have a burning passion for and I have made a fab bunch of friends through being involved. They are great-they keep me accountable and make sure I don't go crazier than I already am!

SO, since Jan this yr I decided that I was gonna really knuckle down and really give my life to God for good. It's been going good for the most part. It's not easy that's for sure. I have up days and down days but I see it as a journey in which I'm learning what I still don't know about this being we call God and why I give my life to Him. Although it's been a roller coaster of a journey-emotinally, mentally & physically-I do enjoy it. Friends that I've had have been an amazing support system and I have also gained some friends in this process of discovery and questions.

Well, what my posts will be like in future is a mystery to me so don't expect too much...But this will be a good way for my friends, esp those overseas to know the going-ons in the wonderful mind of Jean (which really isn't a whole lot)!