|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
USER PROFILE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vinajoy Barham
|
|
I like 19 places!
|
|
Location: WA
Title: Program Manager/Instructor/Writer/Travel Consultant
Company/Organization: Mission to Unreached Peoples/Travel Planners International
|
|
|
|
My Life Story...
Disclaimer: I'm never brief.
Quezon City, Philippines was my hometown for the first 16 years of my life. In high school, I remember considering a career in either journalism or politics - I was going to expose all the corrupt officials in the government, OR run for president when I grew up. But my parents decided to start a new life in Seattle, WA (perhaps for fear that my vocational aspirations would lead to an early death) so my dreams of changing the world had to be altered a bit.
Somewhere between our move and college graduation, I got fixated on China and Jesus. I signed up for a 2 year internship as a campus worker in China, learned the very complex and rich language and culture, experienced true community, made friends with college students, street vendors, migrants, peasants, taxi-drivers and school officials, ate lots of dumplings and msg-laden dishes, and learned how Jesus is revolutionizing the cities in this country, particularly where I lived, and just absolutely loved it!! The only thing I wasn't very excited about was having to depend on others for my finances. It was hard for me. I looked for a way to continue living in China without having to do that - and the most obvious thing that came to me was to be a Teacher! And so I was. Teaching English to 2nd graders in China was not as easy as it sounded!
Athough the job was tiring (especially being a strong introvert), I loved the creativity that is required to keep those little people attentive. I think the best part of being a teacher I have stored in my little box tucked away somewhere in my semi-organized closet: dozens and dozens of hand-made cards with drawings of birds, butterflies, flowers, etc with "i love you ms. vina" scrawled everywhere. The childlike innocence gets to you.
For now I'm back in Seattle, happily married to Steve, a former engineer now public servant (Policy Analyst in the Mayor's Office), trying to find a way back to China and see the rest of the world.
My recent adventures were getting drunk (reluctantly) with wine in a remote village in Guizhou, China, eating tons of gelato and pasta in Venice, Florence and Rome, and eating fish and chips with my old friend Halee in London.
I'm content most of the time, until my sense of contentment gives way to a sense of complacency and I'm back to searching for the elusive ideal life.
|
|
|
|
|
|
About My Job...
Non-Profit/Missions
I currently manage Mission to Unreached Peoples' Journey Program, the short-term part of our sending agency (from 2 weeks to less than a year). I recruit, prepare, send, debrief and follow up short-term participants for our cross-cultural teams and individual positions all over Asia, Eastern Europe, Central Asia and soon the Middle East. I also faciliate cross-cultural internships for college students. Our philosophy is: "Go to learn, serve and discover where you fit in this bigger picture."
Teacher
I was an instructor at Renton Technical College last year and am still trying to get back to teaching ESL, but jobs are hard to come by! I like helping immigrants learn English so that they can enroll in a vocational program, learn skills, support their families and have more opportunities to be self-sufficient and productive citizens. I also tutor on occasion.
My favorite ESL story was back in 2002, when I taught a Citizenship ESL class to adult immigrants mostly from Vietnam. As a thank-you gift, one of the students brought me 2 pounds of raw shrimp!!!
Dream Careers: Writer & Counselor
I want to move towards becoming a better writer and a mental health counselor. It seems so impossible at the moment to get there, juggling all the things in my life but I keep reminding myself, "Baby Steps, Vina, Baby Steps."
Conclusion
Finding a job you are truly passionate about, have a decent income, and still help make the world a less evil place takes time, intentionality and a lot of faith. Although I haven't arrived, I think I'm on my way there.
|
|
|
|
|
|
My Education and Degrees...
Basic TESOL Certificate, UC Irvine
BA, International Studies, University of Washington
Mandarin, Tongji University
Perspectives Certificate
Campus Crusade for Christ Internship Training Program
School of Life
|
|
|
|
|
|
Member of These Organizations...
Member/Affiliate of:
Mission to Unreached Peoples
Lighthouse Christian Church
Network Christian Ministries
Jubilee Evangelical Church
Perspectives of the World Christian Movement
Renton Technical College
Campus Crusade for Christ
Forward Edge International
Christian Writer's Guild
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1425 1ST Ave
Seattle, Washington 98101
United States
Venue Type: Restaurant
Category:
Food
|
|
14 Mercer St
Seattle, Washington 98109
United States
Venue Type: Restaurant
Category:
Food
|
|
9828 15TH Ave SW
Seattle, Washington 98106
United States
Venue Type: Restaurant
Category:
Food
|
|
|
312 N 67th St
Seattle, Washington 98103
United States
Venue Type: Restaurant
Category:
Food
|
|
2516 Alki Ave. S.W.
Seattle, Washington 98116
United States
Venue Type: Restaurant
Category:
Food
|
|
4556 California Ave
Seattle, Washington 98116
United States
Venue Type: Restaurant
Category:
Food
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Comment Board
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
