My Profile (About me)

Hi guys!


In this section, I'd like you to introduce yourself. Tell us who you are. You can write about your past, present, and future dreams and hopes. 3 paragraphs or more could be suitable; please write at least 400 words and include some pictures and possibly links to interesting sites. It's a good idea to spell-check before you post!


As for me, I was born February 13, 1970 in Kamloops. This town is close to Vancouver in the most westerly province in Canada. My parents moved to Salmon Arm, my "real" hometown, when I was just a few years old. I have one brother, Tom, who is 2.5 years younger than I am. He's now married and his wife will have a baby daughter in June.




You already know my hobby: bicycle riding. My parents started me riding when I was young and it is because our family often made weekend rides together that I grew to love this sport. I made my first big trip (600 kilometres) when I was 18. My longest day so far is 232 kilometres (in Japan), and my longest trip 5,414 kilometres (in Europe). I have ridden in more than 25 countries so far and intend to keep on cycling for life!






Well, it's not my only hobby. I like all sports and am particularly keen on hiking. Again, it's probably because my parents took me camping and hiking on every summer vacation when I was young. At that time, I didn't enjoy carrying a heavy pack, but now I don't mind. I often go hiking on Jebel Qatar in Oman (near Buraimi) - yes, that's me on Jebel Qatar in the picture on the left.










One more hobby or interest worth mentioning is Servas. This is a non-profit travel organisation which encourages cross-cultural understanding. Servas members can stay for free with members in other countries and, of course, members sometimes come and stay with me. One Italian guest, for example, came to make a film about the Abu Dhabi falcon club. I've also hosted guests from Korea, Canada, and Germany. In the picture on the right, you can see Servas UAE members at a dinner party at my apartment. Ok, yes, this is kind of an "advertisement": check out http://www.servas.org/



As you guys know, my job now is teaching English at ADMC. I've been here almost four years. Before that, I taught at a university in Korea for seven years. Prior to that, I taught English to immigrants in Montreal. Naturally, I had to get some qualifications before I started teaching. I have a B.A. in English and German and a master's degree from Glasgow (Scotland) in English Linguistics. At ADMC, I also completed a diploma in language teaching (DELTA).



Now I'm taking a rest from more studies. However, I am considering a Ph.D. someday ... maybe. Actually, I think the best Ph.D. is in "life". For me, that means enjoying every moment and learning as much as possible through travel and study. In the future, Ph.D. or no Ph.D., I'd like to have a family, live in at least two more countries, and, of course, keep on travelling on my beloved bicycle!


Your turn ... Tell me about you!
T.J.