In this episode, Brenda shares with us how she made the decision to leave home and move to Qatar. Before telling her husband of her plans, she had already weighed what she was willing to lose. With that, the decision might not have been an easy one but it was necessary. Her experience as a co-founder of the Living Library reaffirmed the importance of connecting to humanity in a personal and intimate way. It is exciting to note that soon Brenda will be launching her own podcast based on these interviews called 'Breaking Bread'. Here is an introduction from Brenda herself.

I was born with the name Brenda Biekx, but I also answer to the names: Carina, Crappy, and Miranda depending on when and where you met me.

What I do for a living does not define who I am. What do I do? I teach. I have taught formally from JK to high school. I have taught in highly specialized, segregated schools, and in alternative, wonderfully integrated schools. I have taught French, Science, Math, Reading, English, Yoga, and Sign Language. I have been a teacher for behaviourally exceptional students, for gifted students, and for Deaf students, for kids with Autism, and the myriad kids that come to school and are special just because they are who they are. I have taught in Ontario, in Qatar, and in Pakistan, and I have loved every single student I worked with, and they loved me back. It’s the most rewarding work I’ve had the pleasure to ‘do’. I am ever grateful to free public education.

But who am I?

I am a seeker, even at the level of my soul. I am a seeker of knowledge, of Truth, of adventure, of novelty, of justice, and of connection.

I am a lover. I am a lover of people, of trees, of animals, of spiders and snakes, of water, and of air. I am a lover of travel, of grammar, and of prose and poetry.

I am a student. I learn languages, philosophies, viewpoints, theories, and lifestyles.

I am a live-er. I live my life, and I let you live yours. I live wherever I am. I live in many places and in many hearts. And they live in me.

I am afraid, I am timid, I am intrepid, I am sassy, I am a coward, I am brave, I am loud, I am broken, I am whole.

I am That.

I am.