Cast of Characters - Echo

Cast of Characters:

If my life was a story, the person below would have a starring role. I want you all to know more about them, so over the following weeks, I’ll be including various interviews that I’ve recently conducted with the most important people in my life.

My Best Friend, Echo.

We were neighbors for many years, and we've friends since we were very young. Her wonderful friendship been the one constant in my life. Even though we've lived in different states (and sometimes countries) for our entire adult lives, we always pick up right where we left off. She's always inspired me to stretch beyond my comfort zone. When I went through tough times, she was always there with a comforting letter or phone call. The adventures we've had together are some of my most cherished memories, and the things I learned from her (and her family) have helped form the person I am today.


Here is the interview:

Erin: Where are you from and why did you leave?

Echo: I'm from Port Orford, Oregon. It's a small town (pop. 1,000) on the southern Oregon coast. It's mainly populated with ranchers, loggers and fishermen. My parents were part of a small group of alternative types who moved there to get away from it all. Erin and I lived across the street from each other for Jr. High and High School, and Erin moved in with me and my dad for our Senior year.

Erin: I know you have recently been expressing your creativity with sewing, knitting and making jewelry. What is your favorite creative outlet and why?

Echo: I have absolutely no talent or skill for drawing, painting, singing, etc. Instead, I think I have a pretty good eye. I like sewing and jewelry making because it's mainly about picking colors, textures and patterns that look good together. If I had more money, I'd love to do more decorating around my apartment.

When I get a house I'm really looking forward to painting and doing some home improvements (a passion I inherited from my super handy mom and my carpenter father). I really love working with my hands. I use knitting as a stress reliever, especially if there's the chance I might get stuck on a train or airplane.

Erin: How did you know what you wanted to do as a career?

Echo: Even though my life has had some hardships and challenges, I've always felt very fortunate that I had two loving parents, great siblings, a super supportive best-friend who gave me tons of confidence (Erin) and an inner drive. I've always wanted to help people in some way.

I kind of fell into teaching English when I lived in Belgium and I love it, especially now that I'm helping adults who are illiterate in their native language and never had the opportunity to go to school in their native countries. But, I don't see myself doing it forever. In the fall I started working towards a Master in Social Work. I've become really passionate about changing public policy and that's what I would like to do in the future. In particular, I'd like to work on policies that would provide health insurance to more people and give more people the opportunity to continue their education.

Erin: Share one of your favorite memories from traveling.

Echo: Most of my best memories are from traveling (see below). Erin and I have had some great times on the road. We drove to San Francisco once; we got tattoos, slept in my car and Erin busted a tire while singing opera. We also spent many wonderful days and weekends driving up rivers, mountains and going to the beach. Having a car provided us some much needed freedom.

I think we both thought that if things got bad enough we could always drive away (my destination would have been Mexico, Erin would have probably picked Hollywood). These days I love going back to Oregon to visit, swimming in the beautiful Aegean Sea at my in-laws summer house, exploring the northeast and exploring more of Europe.

Erin: How did you meet your husband?

Echo: This is a long story. When I went to the University of Oregon I was sure that the hot, smart, funny, interesting guys that didn't exist in Port Orford would be lining up outside my dorm room waiting to date me. Unfortunately, this didn't happen. By my junior year, I was pretty discouraged. I decided to stop dating until I met somebody who was really great. Erin and I even made lists of characteristics the person we were going to marry should have. Some of mine were: must be a vegetarian, must speak at least one foreign language, must like to travel, must like museums/art, must understand fashion, must be intelligent, etc. Also, it should be noted that everyone in my family has always know I would end up marrying a foreigner.

In addition to not dating, in my junior year I also decided to take a term off from school and travel through Europe with two friends for 3 months. We had a friend hook us up with unlimited 3 month Eurail passes and we were ready for an adventure. We spent time in France, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Morocco, and along the way we met a several guys who claimed to be in love with, us but it usually fizzled by the time we moved on to a new country. While in Italy I was determined to see Pompeii. So we went to Naples and checked into Hotel Casanova. The receptionist told us that Naples was too dangerous at night for women to go out alone, but if we wanted to go out there were some American guys staying down the hall and we should have them escort us. At the time, the choice seemed obvious.

So, a few minutes later there we were talking to a group of six men from Texas who were in a study abroad program in France and were traveling through Italy during a break from classes. We all went out for pizza and beer and decided to all go to Pompeii the following day. The next day, I noticed that Utku (who at that time spoke with a southern accent) was talking to me the whole time and not paying much attention to my friends. I also remember his friends joking about what a genius he was and that he seemed to know a lot about every subject imaginable, he even said he almost went to school in Oregon. He was also good looking and seemed to go out of his way to make me laugh (which I'll admit was rather easy, laughing has always been my main flirting tool:).

Even though I was having a great time, we left Italy that afternoon and went on to Prague, Budapest and Amsterdam. But, try as I might I couldn't stop talking about Utku. So Pauline (my roommate who was at this point smitten with a Moroccan guy) and I went to stay with Utku and the Texans in France. Utku was only there for one day and it was pretty clear at this point that he was into me. But I had this idea in my head that it would be way more romantic if we didn't kiss or anything. That way I would always be able to look back on this great guy and there wouldn't be any awkwardness or hurt feelings, just the memory of what might have been. Very dramatic, I know.

So, I went back to the U.S. and I just couldn't stop thinking about him. And then I remember some posters I'd left in his apartment and I had an excuse to email him. And he wrote back instantly (he didn't even try to play it cool and wait a day or two). Then I wrote him and back and forth it went for the next couple of months. Finally, he got back to Texas and we could call each other once a week. Then on July 4th he flew to California and took the bus up to Port Orford and met my family and friends. I remember waiting at the Circle K for him and feeling like I was about to vomit because I felt I had fallen in love with him, but I'd only spent about 48 hours with him in Europe, which didn't seem like enough time.

The moment I saw him get off the bus, I just knew I had been right and that everything was going to work out. We both had another year of school so I stayed in Oregon and he stayed in Texas, we saw each other every couple months. We still wrote each other everyday (letters that are now almost embarrassing to read they are so sweet and sappy) and someday I'm going to print the 800 or so emails and bind them in a book for our kids and grandkids to read.

Erin: If there was one movie or movie star you could say influenced your style, what/who would it be?

Echo: This is such an Erin question! I don't know if I could pick just one. I love Katherine Hepburn's style, so strong and confident. And I also love Grace Kelly's style, so elegant and sophisticated. I really admire Cate Blanchett's style as well.