I am off island at the moment, but anticipate to be back this fall

I was born in Massachusetts and both my parents are from Ohio, but I still think I am half-French. I lived near Paris for most of my childhood and attended the local French schools--my English was so far behind I didn’t get into the International School.

Since that time, native French speakers cannot tell that I am American. My theory is that I heard and spoke French at a young enough age to be able to distinguish the subtle intonations of the language.

Back in the US for high-school, I took French class to get an easy grade and spent the summers in France with my old friends. I went to college in LA and began tutoring for high-school students. After college, I moved back to France for graduate school in computer science. There I rediscovered France as an adult and did some work as an English translator and writer before working at a French computer company.

I loved living in France, but I also still felt American. I took a writing job with an American company, and when the opportunity presented itself, I moved back to the Bay Area. From there I found my way to Kaua‘i where I’ve been happily surprised to meet French speakers from all over the world.

I have lived on Kaua‘i for 4 years and write a blog about living here. My wife and I got married on a beach here, and now we are busy raising our 2-year-old daughter. I feel blessed to live in such a beautiful place, close to the mountains and the ocean.