As the resident bilingual half-Belgian in MAT Aspire 2010, I try to give things a certain Flemish perspective.  Mostly, that means smart remarks about the utility of knowing a language a full 20 million other people in the world speak.  You may well be surprised to know that Flemish is in fact a dialect of Dutch...a primary language in nearly 4 small countries.  In our own state, as many as 25 students may speak Dutch.  As you can see, the possibilities are endless, my utility limitless, and my job secured.

On a more serious note, I'm currently a special ed teacher in Silverton on a restricted transitional license.  I'd like to keep my job...hence the MAT program.  As one of the youngest teachers in the district, I find my self in the somewhat paradoxical situation of the neediest learner, and the most sought-after educator of my colleagues.  This has been a fantastic experience.  The teachers I need information from are more than happy to supply it if I will spend five or ten minutes helping them with their computer or acting as a sounding board for an idea that is new to them.

In my time away from work (which I attempt to maximize) I spend most of my time with my family.  I have two step-daughters aged 2 and 4, and a beautiful wife.  We had been high school sweethearts, went our own separate ways, and finally reunited after several years.  When I'm not playing games, cooking, changing diapers, and hugging my wife, I'm reading.  As a voracious reader, I'll read anything I can get my hands on.  In good times, that's a car magazine, or Time.  In lean times, it's the back of the shampoo bottle.  The one last thing that occupies my time is  tinkering in the garage.  I have an old BMW and love shade-tree mechanical work, especially on older German cars.  Call me an elitist, but it's difficult to top the mechanical elegance of a straight six engine and rear wheel drive.