About Shalenah

A writer was born when Shalenah’s third grade class was assigned to write about a special moment and at 8 or 9 years old, she wrote about the first time her mother took her to a Thai restaurant. She remembers the moments she painstakingly and fervently included as many details as she could to translate the life changing meal from her memory to words on paper. 

Her teacher, who taught for more than forty years, emphasized that it was one of the best, if not the best essay she ever received from a student, including the fifth grade students she taught earlier in her career.

 

If our lives are a kaleidoscope of defining moments, that was one for Shalenah. 

 

As well as when she moved to a new country (Spain), alone and terrified but with a curiosity and craving for the world at 22 years old. 

 

As well as an unexpected three year writing hiatus. And her first time kissing a woman and holding hands in the street. And taking care of her grandmother in the winter of her life. 

 

And of course, quitting her job to solo travel in South America, wanting nothing more than to be free, find home, and be a student of life for as long as her heart said so.

 

Shalenah believes wherever she looks up and sees the sky, she is home. Today, that is Taipei, Taiwan. Outside of teaching English, you can find her with her heart open while meandering city streets with friends or journaling and meditating on top of a mountain. Shalenah is a 200hr certified yoga teacher and travel coach and a lover of many things from blueberry pancakes to the beauty of languages. She is a Sagittarius.

 

With a grateful heart, she thanks you for staying in her world for a spell.