Gourmet Globetrotter

Welcome! You have arrived at the check-in where you will “check in” with me, Sofia, for all the information you need to know before joining me on my journey.

 

Currently, I’m a sixteen-year-old junior at Oxford Academy. I am of Vietnamese and Chinese descent. I enjoy learning new things and meeting new people. I’m an extrovert to people I am close to and an introvert to people I have just met. I love socializing, dancing, traveling, and cooking. I like asking questions, figuring things out, and seeking the good in everyone. I see myself as easygoing, persistent, resilient, observant, curious, amusing, and optimistic. My family is a significant influence in my life. I have divorced parents and four half-siblings. They inspire, motivate, and support me. Although I have yet to discover who I want to be, I hope to maintain my happiness, health, and desire to learn new things.

 

Traveling has been one of my all-time favorite hobbies. My dad is the main contributor to my love of travel. To name a few, he’s taken me to New York, Canada, China, and Vietnam. Not only does being in unfamiliar places entertain me but the little things associated with travel as well. The packing, airplane rides, hotels, and room services make the traveling experience that much more enjoyable. I had my first plane ride when I was six months old. I’ve loved traveling ever since.

 

Food, however, is a new passion I’ve grown to love. My recent medical history has influenced the food my family and I eat and the drinks we drink. Unlike other families who consider eating out a special occasion, it was a part of our daily routine. Furthermore, my dad is also the main contributor to my liking of international food. He introduced me to Korean, Indian, Mediterranean, Japanese, and Chinese food. Occasionally, my family and I go out to eat these types of food or try new food. In contrast to most children, I’m not picky with my food. I’m willing to try foreign food and have a new experience.

 

Throughout this process, I learned that researching about a passion is difficult and frustrating. It took continuous investigation to find a credible source that supported or opposed my specific topic. Passions are general, but once I got more inquisitive and asked more questions, it became more complex. But with determination, I was able to find what I needed for my topic.

 

As I dove deeper into this project, I improved on my writing, thinking, and researching skills. Being introduced to a wide range of genres expanded my writing capacity and made me step out of my comfort zone. I was familiar with the three-point thesis and five paragraph essay, but the dream sequence was an unusual approach for me. While I wrote these new genres, I was able to distinguish between genres that were easy and genres that were challenging. Along with that, my thought process became more organized. Knowing that this project was going to be a lengthy process, I worked on one piece one at a time to ensure that I was focused and that I gave full attention to the task. My researching method enhanced as well. Rather than relying completely on Google to find answers, I found them in some books as well. I realized that although it may be time-consuming, it will be worth it to my understanding and development.

All in all, I have acquired new knowledge about my passion/topic. Even if it was complicated at times, I still managed to pull through and find a way for my research to connect with myself. Personally, I liked being able to create my own website and choose my own genres. It allowed me to express my individuality and creativity better. Overall, the whole journey was an insightful and enjoyable experience.

 

Yours truly,

 

Sofia Han

 

14 Dec 2015