Hi, my name is Kathleen F.. I'm a 29 year-old American female, currently in Newark, United States. I have 13 friends around the world.

Right now, I am sitting in my newark apartment. If you were transported here, Newark would be an unlikely guess. The sunlight streams in my eastern windows soon after six, but the birds arrive shortly after five. I have heard many explanations for the reason of birdsong at dawn. Some say the birds worship their gods to raise the sun, others write that the birds chirp in worry to the sun a constant patter of relief and worry: "where were you, sun? When you disappeared into darkness, we were so worried". But in those dark moments when all the world is sound, I believe the birds begin weaving the tapestry of the day. As time passes, light returns, cars begin to their caravans through this reviving city, planes depart and arrive on along their invisible roads in the sky. The sounds of life outside my window are a mix of English and Spanish. Children play ball and swim in their pools. Parents scold, coach, and coax amidst their adult conversations. They are people here just like any other city on this green planet.

I am city born though the urban environment is not within my comfort zone. When I dream, I dream of returning to Arizona where you can find a place in the great expanse of this world that you are surrounded by 180 degrees of sky. For now, I am living in an urban environment to be near to my work. I am an inner city school teacher. I work with Newark's youth to introduce them to the world of science.

I'm a workaholic. I easily spend 10 hours at work and show up on Sundays. I love my job and I love the people I work with -- students and colleagues. For these last 10 months the classroom has been my entire existence. Three hours into my summer vacation and already I have begun plans for improving the next year. So as you can see, workaholic.

However, I do make time for other activities. I enjoy the outdoors. I kayak, hike and bird. I enjoy photography when I have a camera. I enjoy travel. Last summer I traveled to California with my mother who had never been. In August, I will trave to Costa Rica to explore the natural wonders in that highly biodiverse country as I spend a few weeks working on an organic farm. I read constantly. Throughout the school year I concentrate on fiction, because its easier to mentally digest, but now that summer is here I have a slew of nonfiction waiting on my bookshelves. I have numerous projects planned for my apartment -- my urban sanctuary.

I enjoy meeting people, but sincerity and honesty are important characteristics in the people I value most my life. I believe in investment - in projects and people. I enjoy long emails and chats, but dislike superficiality. I enjoy discussing science, news, politics, climate change, environmental and humanitarian issues, cultures, societal changes, and the more common topics of books, music, and movies. I cannot promise that I am always up to date with the latest on these topics, but dialogue has the potential to change that.