Hello everyone.   I'm a former 'Eikaiwa' teacher in Japan and a current Instructor of ESL at a Univ. in Virginia.  I had lots of Internationa​l friends during my Undergrad. day.  Volunteered as a language tutor at that time.  Had several roommates from Japan and even picked up a few phrases in multiple languages.  I spent 11 in sales and got to travel the world, so, basically, I love people and culture.

I'm looking for e-pals.  All are welcomed and encouraged to drop me a line.    I like people who love language and culture, who likes to share their opinion and viewpoints on a variety of topics.  If I drop you a line, don't be afraid to respond.

I speak a fair level of Japan, but would like to be much better.  I just began to study Korean and need some help with that.  Thanks....

I am a Foodie; I love cooking, baking, grilling and BBQing.  Also, I'm an amateur potter; been throwing Asian-styles​ for more than 10 years.  I'm lucky to live on a small farm with my veggies and Minneapolis Moline tractor...

I like all kinds of music. I'm kind of partial to R&B/Soul​/Neo-Soul like Musiq, Joe, India Arie, Alicia Keys, etc.  I still groove to Classic Ballads from The Temps., Heatwave, EW&F, Jeffrey Osbourne, etc.   I listen to classical and opera too!  It makes me creative, I think, especially when I throwing pots.  Blues and Jazz are great live, but I don't listen much at home.

I listen to Gavin Degraw, Monkey Majik, Hirai Ken, Five for Fighting, James Blount - these are the ones in the current rotation on my MP3 player.  More recently, I've been listening to James Morrison, Paolo Nutini, and Justin Nozuka. They have become my car tunes....

Numerous....​.here's a slice

The Shawshank Redemption, Rush Hour series, Bourne series, anything Kurosawa, the first 10 minutes of "The Rundown"​, the Ninja fight scene in "The Last Samurai"​ (Koyuki-san was gorgeous in that movie; more so than in real life, I think).

I love sitcoms and comedy series.  Dave Chappelle and Chris Rock are my all time favorites.  I'm still partial to The X-Files (although it's in reruns), The Closer, Tyler's Ultimate (Tyler Florence), At Home with Jamie Oliver, Easy Entertaining​ (Michael Chiarello), etc.

I teach, so I tend to read lots of methodology text  in addition too my teaching text.  I still read pottery texts and cookbooks in English and Japanese.

"Let no gift be too small to give, nor too simple to receive, which is wrapped in thoughtfulne​ss and tied with love"..​..L.O. Baird