By RTF Staff Writer Jenn Joshua

[Read Monday's post to see part 1 of this interview...]

JJ: How do you think that involvement in missions could help other teens learn to think outside of themselves?  How did this change your own life?

AY: Learning that there was a big, big world out there filled with people who have very real needs was, quite frankly, shocking.  It is easy to acknowledge the orphans or impoverished in other countries, and quite another thing to actually see them.  Living with these children, truly experiencing their life (even for those few short weeks), opened my eyes like nothing else.  Even if a teen doesn’t want to become a missionary, I think that gaining a global perspective is an extremely important part of developing into a well-rounded person.

JJ:  So, when will you be heading back to China?  What are you most looking forward to upon your return?

AY: I spent this past summer in China, which put a pretty good dent in my bank accounts.  I’m hoping to make it back out there next summer – maybe working the World Expo in Shanghai.  I’ll be looking forward to seeing the kids again, of course.  They grow up so much in a year!  On a less serious note, I always look forward to the food.  Real Chinese food cannot be beat.  Somehow it has the magic nutritional properties that allow you to gorge yourself at every meal and still lose weight.  Why hasn’t the US discovered this secret?

JJ:  Okay, this is kind of beside the point, but as I was doing my obligatory pre-interview stalking, I noticed that you seem to be quite the cheese connoisseur.  (To all RTF readers: Think cheese quotes.  On his Facebook profile.  Yeah.)

BJ warned me to hold your word at arm’s length, but I really HAD to ask:  Where did this obsession come from?  And, can we hear your Barbara Bush story?

AY: Oh boy.  Don’t get me started.  I used to work at a cheese store, which involved copious sampling.  Being a cheese snob is obviously a good thing, so I slowly developed my taste until I felt comfortable at even the classiest wine and cheese party.  My favorite cheese (usually a normal follow-up question) is an imported dutch goat milk gouda aged between six and nine months packaged in red wax, cut from the full wheel within a day.  Or a few days, if need be.  And as far as Barbara Bush goes – my hometown is where she and George Sr. live, and the cheese store happened to sell her favorite cheese (the fairly common very aged Extra Extra Sharp), so she would stop by every now and then to pick some up.  She is always accompanied by two secret service agents, whom would usually glare at me and make me fear for my life while I wielded my cheese-cutting machete.

Thanks, RTF!  If you have interest in working in China, or would like to talk to me further, feel free to send an email to YellisAM1[at]gcc.edu.