Teaching...
I am an educator by vocation at present. I came to teaching somewhat late in life I began formally teaching full time at 29. Prior to this I worked as a computer technician, actor, gardener and landscaper, lifeguard, merchant marine, construction worker, and fisherman. I love teaching because I love learning and consider myself a lifelong student and the dynamic of learning is intrinsic to working in a educational community. I also find my teaching schedule advantageous for pursuing my many other interests. After working in both public and private North American schools I made the decision to live and work overseas. My first overseas post was in Cairo, Egypt. Moving to Egypt changed my life in a number of significant ways and the nation and its' people will forever hold a special place in my heart. Most of all it was a fantastic experience that sealed my commitment to traveling the the world and experiencing cultures in a more intimate fashion thorough actually living and working in them.
Presently, I am teaching at the Qingdao International School in China. It is a small school with a relatively short history of only seven years. I teach a montage of applied sciences --mostly computer studies with a smattering of diverse topics such as astronomy in the mix. My students are from diverse European, Scandinavian, and Middle Eastern countries with the majority coming from Asian nations such as China, Korea, and Japan. The staff is made up of both local Chinese faculty and educators from North America, Europe, and Australia. For greater detail about the school click here. To view a photo album of school related picutres click here.
QingdaoCares
Another job of mine is coordinating and running a locally based charity organization myself and some friends started here in Qingdao, China. It's called QingdaoCares and it is dedicated to raising awareness about people in need in the region, providing resources for empowerment and deepening the community ethos of giving.
We established QingdaoCares in the fall of 2005 and so far we have planned and built a computer learning lab for the blind, collected monies for a local scholarship fund, and organized winter clothing drives. This is a project based organization that requires as much time as one can possibly give it --which is never enough --but we chip whenever and awaywhere we can with the belief that every little bit makes a difference. It's lot of work but it's a genuine labor of love! For more about QingdaoCares click here.
