≡ Who is….
Who is Jan Stedehouder? What do I like and dislike? What do I want out of life? How do I want to achieve this?
First, this weblog is only one of my projects. A few years ago I decided it was not bad to describe some of the major endeavors in my life as projects. It actually helped to keep everything on track. After another burnout it was necessary to focus it a little bit more. The weblog is about becoming a writer. In 2007 I could publish my first book on Linux and in 2008 multiple books will see the light of day. So I guess it is working. But, I want to achieve more than that.
Another project is Open Source eLearning, which aims at developing rich content, multimedia eLearning materials for open source applications. A bit more long term, but definitely connected to my writing endeavors.
This still doesn’t tell you a lot about me. Well, I was born in 1967 and have matured in the mean time till the age of 41. I am married with Agnes and we have no kids. Born and raised in the city of Rotterdam I have my roots in the concrete jungle of the streets. In the early 1990s I lived and worked in the Dutch Caribbean for a few years. As one of my blog posts explains I am in the middle of my third career.
I do believe in the principle of the renaissance man who can be a man of many skills at the same time. Hence, I never specialised in anything. I was trained in management, communication, journalism and economic development. My job experience encompasses profit and non-profit. I have worked in schools and in social work. I tried to be an entrepreneur, but feel more comfortable in project management. I have developed plans for a new educational system and designed a new methodology for social work. In the field of IT I can not seem to make up my mind, shifting from Windows to Linux to Mac OS X, studying and learning about it from day to day. I am still a student counselor as part of my job, assisting young people who want to develop their research skills. I am a writer of IT related articles, but aspire to be a fiction writer as well.
But at the deepest core I am a deeply religious man, by choice not by birth. Almost 16 years ago I set my first steps on the road that I am travelling. A road that allowed me to meet people from various countries and in various countries. I have experienced intense satisfaction in the public ministry as well as deep humiliation at my own errors. I am one of Jehovah’s Witnesses and cherish every moment I can spend with my God and the hours I can use to talk with other about Him. It is on that road I found Agnes, a true soulmate, who is a shining light when I wake up and see her.
