On September 30, 19__, I was born in Surabaja, Indonesia before my later father left. He was in Singapore when the Japanese invaded Indonesia. and could not return He had escaped by ship and entered the US as a seaman. He got off the ship in San Francisco and found his old friends to help him. He joined the Army and was given citizenship for service during the WW II. So, my late mother remarried another man. She asked my forgiveness for leaving me as a child. They sent me out to where I stayed with his mother. Later in time, my stepgrandmother became cruel to me. She’d never treated me well enough. Sometime I was starved but went out looking for mangoes from the trees and the junk food. I ate a lot to make me to feel good but she did not see it that way. Constantly, I was dressed in clothes of rags for years. I lost my hearing when the bomb blew up near me in the war. It was an ear infection. In 1948, my late father remarried the American wife who was a buyer for RH Macy’s in New York City. He was associated with the Indonesia Consulate in Negotiations with the UN after WW ll. My late mother Sri wrote a letter to ask him to give me more education in USA. He agreed to. So, they returned to Indonesia and found me in rags with the help of their old friends. They brought me them to the USA in a strange world. Finally I came to New York City when I was 11. Now it is amazing that I am a very successful artist / illustrator working for McGraw-Hill for many years since 1979. Most of the time I am doing digital illustrations for school textbooks. such as Social Studies, Reading, Math and Science with lot of art for the kindergarten to 6 Grades. As an active member of Sierra Club, I won’t go on a backpacking trip anymore I don’t like the idea of having to carry heavy packs up the mountain / cross country all day. It is very hard work, but the scenery is very beautiful. I’d rather like to hike with a small bag around for a while and then return to the campground. This is more to make very enjoyable to me. Last summer, I really enjoyed my first trip to GNI. It was very easy, fun way. It gave me more time to relax and to explore the Pocono Valley Resort in Pennsylvania. It was just like a museum. It was so easy, fun way to see lot of fun men around; even though I had some difficulty communicating. I was so glad to meet my interpreter John Mark. He did a wonderful job to help me to understand the lifestyles. I feel I had learned a lot from this experience. I look forward to attending the Memorial / Gathering in 2002. I know that once again will enjoy the gathering like a family but this will be particularly meaningful since I am a New Yorker who has been profoundly affected by the terrible attack on September 11th. I have created this attached piece of art in memory of September 11th. It is only one way I can communicate all my feelings and thoughts. I hope that I will have a chance to meet new friends with similar interests. I wish all the best for New Year Adventure 2002 Hima Pamoedjo