Who, you may wonder, am I?

As I am writing this (as of October 2002), I'm back at Holy Cross, in my final year of college. England was an amazing experience, and already seems like a distant past. One wonderful thing that came out of the experience is Mark. I met him at University of Sussex, in the university library in April, and since our first date, we've been together. We've had some of the most amazing times with eachother. I came back to the states in July and it was such a sad event. I experienced a reversed cultural shock. I actually thought I missed driving, but I realize that I don't because I learned to love the public transportation. It saves money and hassle. Anyway, it was quite an adjustment. Mark, who is currently traveling around the world added Holy Cross and New England to his world tour and visited me for three weeks in October. It was wonderful, our feelings for eachother rekindled and grew into such intensity that neither one of us has felt before.

I guess this is a good place to brag about myself, but I wrote a proposal to study Deaf history, culture and language of South Africa and Namibia for the Watson Fellowship, and I've been chosen as one of the four finalist for Holy Cross. I now have to be interviewed by the Watson comittee and the final decision will be made in March. If I do win, I'll be travelling in South Africa and Namibia for a year next year! It is a very exciting prospect.

~ If you want to see some recent pictures, of Mark or whatever, check out the photo album.

Its spring of 2002, and time has sped forward. I just read my profile that i am replacing, and its albiet outdated. I now am studying at University of Sussex in Brighton, England for the year. A wonderful break from Holy Cross. Brighton has been an absolutely wonderful experience. A huge change from a conservative, homophobic university to a place everything is gay! Its great. Living here has allowed me to become comfortable with being openly Gay, doing whatever I want, walk in a gay bar without a second thought or any butterfly in the stomach. I've been gaining confidence, expanding my horizons, and seeing more of the world. Ithas been a great place to grow and increase my self awareness. But it has not only been deep thoughts, i've also had so much fun going out, clubbing, dancing, drinking, traveling, meeting new people Deaf and Hearing alike.I am now finally truly enjoying my university experience, and with this knowledge, I can face Holy Cross for my final year. I will remember this year for many years to come.

Dancing at Revenge (Gay Club in Brighton)

Gazing over Florence, Italy

(The rest of this page is from winter of 1999, you can read on if you want, but i'll change it some other time) This past year has been very interesting... I have done so much in a short time! Last December, I went to Mammoth Mountain, CA for a week of intense ski training for the US deaf ski team. It was a blast! Mammoth is my all time favorite mountain in America now! Better than Jackson Hole, I'd say.. Its hard to compare, but wow! Anyway, on the last Friday of Febuary, Kelley Duran, Stephanie Cramer (Kelley's interpreter) and I flew off to Zurich, Switzerland. We stayed in Switzerland for 2 weeks! These two week swere the best two weeks I have ever had in my short life so far! During the first week, we stayed in this "deaf" house/dorm in Passugg, which is next to Chur, Switzerland. We, the alpine ski team, snowboard team, and the nordic ski team trained at Lenzerheide. The scenery was soo beautiful! It is somewhat similar to Vermont, only prettier and BIGGER! The mountains were HUGE, all snowcapped. Only the bottom half of the mountains were covered with trees! We arrived Switzerland a few days after the last big avalanche! We were really nervous about it, but it appeared that we have arrived at the perfect time! Sunny everyday, in 50's. ( A bit too warm for skiing, I know, but who cares). During the first week, the US teams got to know eachother very well, developed a great bond among eachother.

Kelley, Me and Calla Strange! (hey, she even wants to be a doctor!, Dr. Strange LOL!)

After the first week, we all transferred to the Morosani Hotel, on the mainstreet in Davos, Switzerland. It was like we moved into a winter paradise! Chocolate store across the street, and inside the hotel. The hotel was 5 star! The food! wow, unbelievable! The only thing bad about it is... its 5 course meal, so it took us around 2 hours to go through one meal! The GAMES began on Sunday, March 7th with the opening ceremony. It was a delightful mixture of international deaf/hearing fans! We could watch sign languages from each country! The week progressed with various of events... There were only 4 sports, Hockey, Alpine skiing, Nordic Skiing, and introductory sport, Snowboarding. IF you are interested in the results, go to this site, USADSF (United States of America Deaf Sports Federation). I did okay in the competitions, I gave my best, and I have to practice harder for the next one in Sweden, if I make it back on the team!

I have to add one thing, I am very impressed with Kelley Duran's optimistim! Skiing and Racing is her life, but one fateful day, in early Jan, as she raced down a course, she went off the course and tore her ACL, and MCL. Her doctor told her she could not ski until spring. She was devasted, she did not know what to do, she really wanted to go to Switzerland. She made up her mind that she was still going to go! She came with us and had a great time! But, it was not the same, I always have skiied with her, and this past winter, I had to ski alone or with new people. It was a weird feeling.. but I want to congratulate Kelley for her perseverance! Guess what! She is going to ski this july 6th at Mt. Hood, Oregon!

Well.. I've bored you all with my ramblings... I am going to close!

I hope you all enjoyed my story. I wanted to share my wonderful experience with you all. Here is a few more pictures from Switzerland...

From left to right, My mom, Aaron, my bro, Me and my dad!

JackobsHorn, Switzerland! What a View! I miss it there!!!

I did something unimaginable! I went Paragliding on my last day in Davos! What an experience!!! I want to do it again someday! I was 15,000 feet in the air, above the ALPS!

Raychelle, me, and baby Christine. Shes not my kid! mind you! She is Ken, my teammate's daughter. Raychelle is a good friend of mine I met ...

THAT IS ALL FOLKS!

HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS PAGE!