Introducing myself

Hi, Steemians!

My name is Henrry Lezama. I am 44 years old. I was born in Yaguaraparo, a small town on the east peninsula of the State of Sucre, Venezuela. I moved to Cumaná to attend Universidad de Oriente when I was 18 and (except for 7 years abroad) I have lived there since. I have 5 children: 1 son and 4 daughters. I am also the putative father of 3 dogs and a cat. I know that sounds crazy in the context of the Venezuelan crisis, but we cannot make up our minds as to which child to stop feeding, give away or put to sleep.

With my daughters - Personal file

With my wife and daughter - Personal file

My son and grandson - Personal file

Brandy - Personal file

Chiquitín - Personal file

April - Personal file

Darky

What else can I tell you about me?

I received a Bachelor’s Degree in Education (EFL) in 1997 and after 4 years teaching at UDO and thanks to a Fulbright scholarship, I went to the United States for Graduate School. I attended Ohio University at Athens, Ohio and Illinois State University at Normal, Illinois. I got an MA in American Literature and ABDed a PhD in English Studies with emphasis on Children’s Literature and African American Literature.

Besides Children’s and African American Literature, translation studies and Anglo-American History have kept me intellectually alive since 2008. When I am not reading on any of those subjects, I do some gardening. I love flowers and fruits and find those plants the most gratifying to cultivate. Since I do not have a place with a yard big enough to farm, I grow plants until they are big enough to be transplanted and then I give them away to friends and family with yards. Sometimes I take plants to our campus and plant them there, hoping some day my children will eat the fruits or just enjoy the shade.

Source: Personal file

My daughter Anna

Source: Personal file

My other hobby is movies. I am fascinated about movie making and enjoy almost every genre. I think that good movies and good literature complement each other. I use plenty of movies references in my literature classes as a didactic way of illustrating basic storytelling methods and the multiple ways in which we can approach texts, movies being a kind of text students are more familiar with and more attracted to.
I am convinced of the power of education and the power of literature. It has become imperative in this technological era, when immediacy, fragmentation, superficiality and hyper exposure to information are so entrenched in our society, to provide children with the best artistic forms possible to help them become more human, better thinkers and better citizens.

With my daughter Vivian, at age 3 - Personal file

My daughter Anna, of 7 months - Personal file

Anna on office chores - Personal file

I found the Steemit concept both innovative and stimulating. Besides the obvious prospects of economic incentives, the very possibility of quality interaction with talented people from all over the world, who can not only judge (by action or omission) but also sponsor and encourage whatever talent one may have, holds a powerful appeal. I am embarking on this adventure with all the technical limitations and shadows that doom over Venezuela, as well as the emotional roller coaster that has come to characterize our daily life. It is my hope that by keeping our intellectual activity alive and sharp we will be keeping our country alive and expectant for better times to come, when our children can grow physically and intellectually healthily … and flourish.