Hi there, my name is Amy and I was born in Redondo Beach , California . I have moved a lot since then, living in Arizona for much of my childhood, but mostly growing up in Pleasanton , California. After that, I went to Isla Vista , to study at UCSB .This was an intense period of creativity, debauchery and political activism for me. Upon graduation, I headed for San Francisco where I stayed briefly before voyaging to Valdez , Alaska . The cold set in and after seeing the Northern Lights , it was time to warm up. Soon, I went to Thailand for a short visit.
While in Thailand, I began teaching English at AUA in Bangkok . It is a hot town in more ways than one and I decided to stay for almost a year. From Bangkok, I took periodic trips to and from Malaysia , Laos and my favorite spot in Thailand, Koh Phangan . I even took a trip to India before returning to the Bay Area in California again.
For several years I worked to travel. I’ve returned to Thailand and India many times. Eventually, I even made my way through Kathmandu , Nepal and went trekking to Annapurna . In India, I made my way through the Cow Belt from Calcutta to Varanasi to Bodhgaya , where I lived for several months. I also lived in New Delhi for a time and took a trip through Rajasthan . During this tour, I also saw the Taj Mahal . During these travels, I was able to practice the little bit of French I had learned in high school as well as learning some of the Thai and Hindi languages as well.
Learning about places and people of the world is invigorating. Yes, there are assholes everywhere and people can use your good-will to swindle from you. These people are the exception though. Most people are genuine, and in dire circumstances, I have been saved by a total stranger more than once. Sometimes a person you don’t even know is suddenly like family or your best friend . These are the people that make this world a wonderful place.
After some time, I settled down in Marin County . I worked as a Tour Coach Operator and a Gray Line Tour Guide in San Francisco and around the state. This work was very fun and exciting, but attempting to be more domestic, I eventually took work as a Teacher’s Aide for a student diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome . This was a great experience for all involved.
On one of my regular trips from the beach at Point Reyes , I stopped in with a friend at Peri’s in Fairfax when I met my husband Ron Gosling . He is originally from Montréal , but was temporarily living in Marin playing bass and gigging. Ron is a talented musician and an inspirational artist. We hit it off immediately. Eventually he and I drove east together to Toronto , Ontario in Canada . This is where I’ve settled for the last few years.
Until recently, I have been in a position where I was not allowed to work here in Canada. During this time, I have been studying business and cultivating skills as a website designer and Flash ActionScripter . My ability to design interactive sites for the web is a great vehicle for promoting my side business ventures. Perhaps I will soon be able to take on design clients as well.