I grew up in Duluth, Minnesota, just across the bridge from Superior. After college, I went to Japan to be an English teacher for a year, and I have been teaching English ever since. I earned an M.Ed. in TESOL, and lived in Japan for twelve more years. I enjoy gardening and cooking, but my favorite way to spend a day is curled up with a good book. I continue to be intrigued by how different cultural experiences teach people to write in different ways.