... so from the past few conversations I've had with others about my blog, it's become obvious that a little explanation is in order.

Let's start with the beginning.

I grew up in Switzerland, had just graduated from high-school and was an intern as a graphic artist/part time recording artist/part time magician's assistant.  I was a very bored 16 when I came across a 2 x 4 notecard that was posted on a wall of a grocery store that read "Which young girl would like to go to the USA to take care of a handicapped girl".  5 minutes later I was on the phone with the former nanny of a US family and 3 months later I was in a plane to Houston, Texas.  I ended up living with my incredible host-family, taking care of my "sister in spirit" Ashley for two years, before I had learned enough English to go to college myself. 

Fast forward a few years, add four kids, an Information Systems degree, a few certifications and a move to Dallas because of a job offer from ExxonMobil as a Global Notes Admin.  Which brings us to my current company Workflow Studios, which in 2005 got an inquiry for a project manager, implementor and instructor for a 6 server environment in the country of Anguilla.

If you're thinking "there is no country named Anguilla" then you are reacting pretty much as I did and boy, was I wrong!  So in November of 2005 my husband and I went to Anguilla, and he chatted up just about every one of the 10K inhabitants of Anguilla, went fishing and exploring, while I was stuck in a concrete bunker setting up servers.  But before being stuck in the bunker, on the first day on the island, right after taking the boat over from St. Martin, something magical happened.....

As soon as we set foot on this patch of earth - it felt like home.
No questions asked, no accessories needed.
It just did, and we would have gladly stayed there with only the 1 suitcase of stuff we took with us.

It was like when you'd fall off your bike as a kid and your Mom would put a band-aid on your knee, everything was going to be ok.
Like walking into your home after a winter storm and someone you love just baked cinnamon bread and offered you a hug.
Like when you fall in love and there is no fear or doubt about the eternity of the connection you've found.
Just like that, Anguilla felt like home.

Which wasn't exactly convenient as I had a job, 4 kids, a house, 2 cars and a bunch of belongings (that we shall refer to here as 'crap').  So after some day-dreaming about how the heck to move to a Caribbean island and a few months back in the states we got another call from the Anguillian client, this time wanting a BES server.
This trip would not be spent in a concrete bunker as we were determined to make sure that we still were in love with the island.
And we were.
So in April of 2006 we put the house on the market, sold the cars, the belongings and we took the kids out of school and packed 10 suitcases of the most important things and bought 6 plane tickets to Anguilla.


So, that's the "with sugar on top" version that sounds amazing and easy.
Next time we talk in person, I'll gladly tell you about the blood (for those of you that know about our Injury Photo Album, you know I'm not kidding about the "blood" part), sweat (we have no air conditioning here) and tears that has gone into making this experience happen. 

We live a very modest and inconvenient life that requires at least three times the work of what we had to put forth in the US, that is in addition to having four kids below the age of 9. 
But when I think about what those kids will be able to do with this experience/adventure as they grow up....
how their sense of community, kindness and tolerance towards other will be shaped....

I will gladly go boil yet another half gallon of non-potable water!