My story took shape on the high plains of central Wyoming, a landscape famous for its desolate expanses, fierce winds, and conservative culture. I grew up surrounded by space, and lots of it, but I harbored a distinct feeling of isolation from a young age. (Painful experiences being bullied in elementary school didn’t help.) Books offered me a means of transcending the confines of my geographical isolation and social exclusion, I especially delighted in stories about the fearless and independent pioneer women who walked my same lands. A Japanese aunt living across the country sparked my interest in Asia early on, and thanks to her I started reading stories about and by women in Japan and the lands they walked. The path of learning and education I set out upon, influenced by these early experiences and nurtured by a series of especially fine mentors, has led me through an array of spaces.
the ranch in Wyoming
the Rocky Mountain foothills
the lush Pacific Northwest
the West coast metropolis of Los Angeles
Japan’s ancient capital of Kyoto
Fukuoka, Japan’s gateway to Asia
Europe’s vibrant cultural mecca, Berlin
the medieval cobblestoned city of Ghent
Leaving Wyoming and entering college, one year of Japanese language training under my belt—another fortuitous and rare encounter—I dove headfirst into studies of Japanese and Asian history, literature, philosophy, politics, and religion. I always held a near-perfect GPA, but not because of innate intelligence or a fixation on grades. I attribute my academic successes far more to hard work and a love of learning. From what I have experienced, navigating graduate school and beyond would be very difficult without passion and dedication.
Peering into other worlds, asking questions, following leads like a nosy detective, unraveling mysteries (or at least trying to), piecing together ideas, constructing arguments, sharing findings, then starting all over again—this is my path of research. Teaching is another story, and an important one.
And then we have all the rest. I’ll end here with just a few of my favorite things:
road trips.
dinner parties.
dance sessions with my favorite DJ (my husband) and his two superfans (our daughters).
walks in nature.