User Profile

Born and (mostly) raised in the United States in the state of Indiana, but now living in Niigata, Japan. I've had to give up a lot over the years to make this happen and as a result of this happening. I have a personality that gets me into trouble, but also tends to lead me to interesting people and places and experiences. I've developed a love for travel and seeing new places and things and meeting new people.

I know, I know...sounds like a freaking sitcom, but no joke, this is my life.

I work as an assistant English teacher and am a licensed teacher of Japanese and Social Studies in the US. I'm not really sure what's going to happen from this point in my life, but I see myself staying here a bit longer while I figure that out.

I get along with just about everyone, but do tend to have some difficulty relating to people who have obsessive personalities as I'm a pretty laid back person who never really goes crazy about anything. I enjoy trying a little bit of everything and getting into as many things as I can, so it just doesn't make sense to me to fixate on one thing I guess. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Truthfully I admire and somewhat envy that capacity to be so intensely into one thing. I haven't been able to do that for a long time though, so it's just hard for me to connect with people who are like that.

One thing I have zero tolerance for is aggressive, belligerent, and abusive people and behavior. Life takes more than enough opportunities to kick me upside the head, the last thing I need is people in my life who are there solely for that purpose. I came to the sad realization awhile back that there are just some people who thrive in misery and who make it their life's pursuit to create misery in their lives and the lives of everyone around them. As much as I hate the idea of turning my back on anyone, for my own well-being, I made the decision to cut people like that out of my life, and have become much happier since.

I also have a big issue with people who manipulate and use others. Whether it's mooching or hurtful mindgames, I have absolutely no respect for anyone who acts in a way to benefit themself at someone else's expense. I have had a lot of very painful and difficult experiences both involving and as a result of people like this, and I have no place for anyone like this in my life.

I guess the easy way to say it is that I have no tolerance for melodrama, bullshit, and unwarranted hostility.

I am a bit of a loner, and have a tendency to disappear for periods of time. I am not very good at keeping up communication, and tend to let it lapse unless I am reminded or the thought to get in touch with others just happens to occur to me. To be honest, I'm pretty absent-minded in general, but it is in this regard that I am the most inattentive.

That said, I am fiercely loyal and have never turned anyone away who has shown up at my door, nor have I ever hung up a phone on a friend or family member who needed to talk, no matter when that call was received or what was going on with me.

Not really sure what else to say. If you want to know more about me, read the journal, I'm sure you'll figure out the rest.

A note about the schools listed:

I graduated with my B.A. from Ball State University in 2001. After some difficulty finding work, I decided to go back and get my teaching license in 2002, which I finished in 2005. I took some distance courses afterwards so that I was able to finish my Social Studies licensure program and added Social Studies to my license in 2006. LJ does not allow you to add the same school twice, so it is listed as me being in college for 9 years. No, it did not take me 9 years to get a bachelor's degree.