One Girl…Two Countries: Estelle McDoniel
By: Hannah Johnson
BGSU grad and author Estelle McDoniel shares her experience via email in writing her biography One Girl…Two Countries, a tale of another BGSU grad, Terry, and her experience between the United States and Venezuela. In 1953, Terry, a teenager, was looking forward to high school but her father had ended up just accepting a new position in a remote area of Venezuela. The family moves from Ohio to Venezuela, and, while there, Terry was able to notice so much about the country such as its nature, its language, and its kind people. She lived in Venezuela for many years and now her story is shared through a fellow 1961 BGSU grad, Estelle McDoniel.
Can you tell me a bit about what your inspiration for this book was? How did you discover Terry’s story, and what drew you to tell it?
Estelle says that Terry and she had known each other from attending the same church in Toledo, though they were in different high schools and didn’t see much of one another. Then, they both committed to BGSU for college, Terry being a PE major and Estelle in elementary education. They shared a number of friends but after graduation, went in different directions and had no contact with each other. Later, however, a mutual BG friend connected the two of them again, years later. Estelle mentions that she knew Terry had lived in Venezuela, but didn’t know anything about her experiences there, and now that they were connected again, she asked her a bunch of questions about Venezuela. Terry sent Estelle her number, suggesting they chat through FaceTime, and such chats went on weekly for about a year. Estelle says Terry was aware she had written another biography, on Rear Admiral, and suggested that maybe her life experiences should be in a book. Estelle says she thought about that and decided to write Terry’s story, primarily because her experiences were unique and interesting.
What do you hope readers are able to take from Terry’s story?
Estelle says she would hope readers value and respect Terry’s story, especially Terry’s ability to learn and respect others whose lives were different from hers. She says learning about the kindness of a country’s people can only happen when you are willing to respect another country’s customs, language, and people.
On the overview of the book on your website, Terry is described as someone whom you may see as your friend as you hear her life story. How does Terry’s story touch the reader in this way and create that sense of friendship?
Estelle says she believes that because Terry is open, factual and willing to talk about her life that the reader might feel that Terry is sitting quietly beside the reader sharing her story, including the ups and the downs. She mentions that Terry has no secrets from the reader.
This story features a unique blend of two countries. How does that unique blend of two countries and their cultures shape this story? Can something be said about stories taking place over international borders in the present day, and, if so, what?
Estelle says that Terry learned and respected the language and the customs of people in the US and in Venezuela, that she and her brother recognized that what they could do in Venezuela might not be allowed in the US. Estelle says Terry mentions the freedom she and her brother felt in Venezuela compared to the rules that had to be respected in the US, and that, as teenagers, summers without rules offered exciting times and experiences. As for the reader, Estelle says that perhaps reading about two different counties allows the reader to recognize similarities between countries while respecting the people and the differences.
Estelle McDoniel has authored several other books including the above-mentioned biography, Registered Nurse to Rear Admiral…A First for Women…A Nurse Forever.” More information can be found on her website, thefamilybookstore
