As it turned out, I never taught school here in the U.S. Instead I made use of the many different offers to further my own education. Combining my interest in medicine and my job as the mother of young children, I became a trained Emergency Medical Technician. Thankfully, I never had to apply this new expertise at home. In 1999, I was accepted to Wellesley College and achieved another dream: to have "the American college experience." I graduated in 2004, just one year ahead of my oldest son, with a major in Women's Studies and a Minor in Psychology. While my degree has not yet yielded employment, I enjoy and use daily what I have learned.

I am American and have never lived abroad, although to a person from the Midwest, New England seems like a foreign country. I grew up in a small town (Lake Orion) in the Detroit area. Two years ago, my husband Ted’s job brought us to Salem, Massachusetts. Anthea and Miranda, our two daughters, stayed in Michigan for college and jobs.

Because it is a city with its own rich history, and not just a bedroom community north of Boston, I like Salem. It has the variety and some of the problems that come with its being a city, but I don’t see this as a downside. It is also close to Ted’s job in Danvers, and not too far from the airport (his “second home!”).

My interests include cooking, gardening, knitting and cultural activities. I joined the IWCB when I was looking for a book group and heard they were forming one. They have been very welcoming.

My many passions in life are topped by my love for my family and friends and by my interest in creating a better world for people and animals. Currently, I'm on the board of the Network for Women's Lives. I've also worked with hospice, abused children and suicide prevention.

Eve Ensler is one of my inspirational mentors. She founded the organization V-DAY, with the goal of ending violence towards women and girls.

When my husband was offered a job in Boston in 1998, I came speaking bad English (still do...!), and leaving my job in France.

But with three kids you have to move on and meet people... so I first became a volunteer at the French School and then at Boston Accueil (a francophile welcoming group).

I was born in England and the main family home is still in Oxfordshire, in the U.K. My husband, Dennis, works for International Power and it is his job that brought us to Boston. While he has worked on several overseas assignments, including four years in Pakistan, I have only accompanied him to Chicago and Boston. Most of my traveling has been for pleasure.

Dennis and I have two sons and a daughter, all graduates and now (thankfully) independent. While they were growing up, I studied for a BA degree with the Open University, doing most of it from home. My professional experience has been quite varied, ranging from administration to banking and working with learning-disabled adults.

Belonging to the IWCB has been, for me, a great way to make friends and, through the social activities, find out what Boston has to offer a newcomer to the city.