Brent Soderborg

Illinois, California, Thailand

I know that a lot of people say something about their spouse/family here, but that's for good reason. My wife and kids are the best thing to ever happen to me.

Beyond that, though, I've been blessed to have jobs that I find interesting and I've been able to work with amazing people.

I have to give a lot of credit to the English teachers I had for teaching me to think and to put my ideas on paper in a clear, concise, organized manner and encouraging critical thinking. Those skills have been the foundation of my professional life.

I also appreciate the art teacher whose name I cannot recall, for both helping me and allowing me to get away with things like painting wrestling murals and backdrops for the dance team and letting me and Ben Dansie hang out in the art room when lit mag staff conversations got too serious.

You can't get much further from Utah -- both physically and metaphysically -- than Asia. I've been to three of the five remaining communist countries (China, Vietnam, and Laos), and one that was communist and still retains many characteristics (Cambodia) Even a vibrant developing country like Thailand is so far removed from the place I grew up.

It probably goes without saying, though, that after being raised in Utah, living in northern California for eight years was almost like living on another planet.

There was that one dream about waking up in a foreign country and not being able to speak the language...

I have an unhealthy relationship with fast food hamburger places. And sarcasm.

Australia. Doing similar work to what I do now, just with a funny accent.