user8743

I am originally from Mississippi but have lived in Oregon for the last 16 years. Other places I've lived: Ohio, South Africa, and Botswana. But more about that in a moment (Africa, that is).

Currently, I live in Portland, Oregon. What a great city! I live downtown where it's safe to walk around alone at night yet vibrant and full of life. The summers are spectacular....clear blue skies and temps ranging between 50 at night to a high of 70-80 during the day. Summers in Mississippi and Africa were quite a bit different, so I'd choose to live here for the summers alone. But there are so many other reasons, among them being the fact that a few blocks away is Powells City of Books, the largest independent bookstore in the US. If you've never visited Powells, you should. My New Year's Resolution was to visit Powells once a month without spending $50 (oh well, I'll try that one again next year....)

I coordinate International Admissions for the largest public university in Oregon. With my job, I travel several weeks in Asia every fall and, when I'm in the office, get to hang out with people from around the world. How lucky am I? We have over 1,600 international students from more than 100 countries, so it's like I get to travel the world every day without leaving my office.

As I mentioned earlier, I lived in Africa twice, once in the early 80's in South Africa, and a decade later in Botswana as a Peace Corps Volunteer. Anyone who knows me knows that I love Africa more than any place on earth. There's not a day that passes that I don't I feel "homesick" and wish I were back there again.

In my spare time, I sell books and CDs online to fund my travel habit (if only I had been vaccinated against the travel bug!!). I love to read but am always so busy that I never have time, yet my house is overflowing with books.

Are you getting the idea that I like international things? Most books I read are set in other countries. I always make a beeline to the World Music section of the music shop...and ditto for the Foreign section at Blockbuster.

I adore shopping in 100-yen stores across Asia and very soon hope to visit the ones that just opened in the Seattle area.

FOODS I LOVE:
I love ethnic foods more than "American food." The spicier it is, the better I like it. And I am a professed chilihead and garlichead....I can never get enough of either! I love trying new dishes when I travel, and the more icky it sounds, the more I am intrigued (although I may only want to try it once).

FOODS I DISLIKE:
The list is a short one: eggs. While there are other things that I don't particularly care for, eggs in any form or fashion disgust me. But I've got nothing against people who eat eggs.....or chickens. Oh, and I don't eat much candy. Not that I don't like it (LOVE IT!), but I'm trying to kick the sugar habit.

MY FAVORITE BEVERAGES:
I'm also a professed coffee snob. I guess it's a Pacific Northwest thing. Here, there's a Starbucks on just about every corner. Seriously. I also love black tea, although for some reason I detest Earl Grey (no offense, Earl). I adore original milk bubble tea (cold please....I tried it hot once, and once only). I love stout beer and a black and tan when someone really knows how to prepare it. And mojitos......mmmmmm.

MY FAVORITE COLOR:
I love the color purple (yes, and the movie as well).

MY LEAST FAVORITE COLOR:
Pink. I'm definitely not pretty in pink although many people are.

STUFF I LIKE TO DO:
Pretend that I am an artist. Play my piano. Read news from around the world. Try new restaurants. Shop. People watch. Take naps. Have high tea at a cozy teahouse. Surf the net. Meet people from other places and learn about their life and cultures.

I have quite a collection of African music (are you surprised??!!). My CD collection also includes a wide assortment of artists from Gwen Stefani to Harry Connick, Jr. to Keith Urban with some 50 Cent and Akon mixed in. Hands down, the best concert I've ever attended was Prince last year. And this is not exactly music, but I adore Savion Glover and never miss him when he's in town. I was even lucky enough to catch him when he toured in Japan a couple of years ago. If you've never seen him perform in person, you've missed a real treat!

MUSIC I DON'T CARE FOR: Jazz must be an acquired taste that I have never acquired. And for some reason, I can't stand Mel Torme. Seems like a nice enough guy though.

Ooh, there are so many. I'll kick it off by saying that I love foreign films (subtitled, not dubbed). They provide the best window into another culture short of actually visiting the location itself. Movies made in Africa (duh!) such as Out of Africa, Cry Freedom, The Power of One, The Gods Must Be Crazy...just to name a few. Rabbit-Proof Fence took my breath away. I watch The Color Purple every time I see it on TV. I still remember the boyish Mel Gibson's marvelous performance in Gallipoli (where oh where did that nice young man go???). The Wedding Banquet (and pretty much any of Ang Lee's work), Bamboozled (ditto about Spike Lee).

MOVIES I DON'T CARE FOR: Science fiction, scary movies, ones with lots of blood and gut display.

Lost, Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, most British sitcoms, the Travel Channel, the Food Network, The Office, Seinfeld, The Soup, Best Week Ever, Pimp My Ride, I Love Lucy, ALF.

Anything with handmade paper, watercolors, beading.