Introducing myself and my journal: La Pura Vida

About Me:
I graduated from Oregon State University in 2010 with a bachelors in English, and a minor in French. My junior year of college I studied abroad in Lyon, France for a year. I studied French at a language institute and lived with a host family. My experience living abroad incited my love for travel, and learning other languages. During my time in France I also taught English at an elementary school.

I have over four years of experience teaching English to students in various backgrounds. After graduating, I worked for "INTO OSU," the English language institute on campus. I worked with students from all over the world, to improve their English skills and prepare them for the university. That sparked my desire to continue working with international students. Most recently I lived in Costa Rica for 18 months, teaching English to children and adults. It was a very rewarding experience and I became fluent in Spanish. Costa Ricans have a phrase, "pura vida," which means "pure life." I strive to live by that motto, thus the title for my Journal.

In my free time I love dancing, traveling, spending time outdoors, and being with my family in the Portland area. My mother's family is Lebanese, so I grew up with strong ties to my cultural roots. I love Lebanese food, the music, and I hope to one day visit my family in Lebanon. My goal is to work for a global non-profit in Portland, helping tie the world together and giving those less fortunate a voice to be heard. I'm very excited to be involved with "World Pulse" and I greatly admire the work they do! Thank you! Gracias! Merci! Shukran!

My Passions:
Spending time with family, Traveling, Learning Languages, Being Active outdoors, Reading, Cooking, Dancing

My Challenges:
Finding enough time to do everything I love!

My Vision for the Future:
Peace and Love

My Areas of Expertise:
French, Spanish, Arabic culture