Research Paper: Listening to a Billion Voices

Book Report: Bound Feet and Western Dress

Our story begins 21 years ago in Auburn, Alabama with the birth of Heidi Lynn Brooks. Since then, Heidi has done many things, seen many sights and been many places. She loves to explore: in a book, around the world, through her head, or really anywhere. Her explorations have brought countless adventures.

When Heidi lived in Costa Rica, she used to chase giant iguanas, swim off of untouched beaches, and eat black beans and rice for every meal. It was in Costa Rica when she was three years old that Heidi fell and knocked out her two front teeth. She had that gap in her mouth for about six years before the new teeth grew in.

Many of Heidi's adventures have happened in Hawaii where her father lives on a magical fishpond. Her feet turn red from walking on the volcanic soil, though she spends more time on water than on land. This is where Heidi developed her love of sailing and anything about the ocean.

Heidi's family lives in Seattle where they love to hike at Mt. Rainier and drink Starbucks Coffee and go shopping. She will miss that while she's in China.

Now Heidi is at a tiny college settled on the bluffs of the Mississippi. These days, she spends more time looking at water than being on it. It's hard to hike on mountains around here, too. And she can barely remember what an iguana looks like. But all of these pictures from her past make her who she is today... a junior political science major who is so grateful for all her adventures, and for the ones she will add to her story in China.