I'm a teacher and a student. My perspectives are shaped by the fact that I've lived in many countries and am learning my fourth language. I would pick the city over the suburbs, NPR over Fox News, public transportation over driving, ethnic hole-in-the-wall eateries over theme restaurants, and sometimes, Bollywood over Hollywood (at least for the first 120 minutes or so). I can't pick between Homer and Homer Simpson, however. I respect them both.

While I live and work in Chicago now, my dream is to run my own language school on the West coast or somewhere else with kinder weather, or perhaps an ice-cream shop in a place with banana trees, hammocks, and houses painted turquoise and tangerine.

Yoga and meditation have been life-changing for me and continue to be a focus in my life. I consider myself spiritual but not religious, and enjoy thoughtful, beautifully-written films, plays, and books. I like swing and contra dance; bluegrass, gospel, and jazz from the hard bop era; spicy food, cooking for friends, singing in the shower, summer picnics, and swimming in the lake.

I'd love to meet people who feel a sense of resonance with the above. The most important factors, I think, are a high level of erudition, a sense of spirituality, a love of learning, and a positive attitude towards life.

While I'm happy to try and respond to all emails, it is easier to respond when the initial missive contains something of substance, perhaps something beyond the digital equivalent of a drunken leer in a dark bar, if that's not too much to ask. Grazie.

A stroll with engaging conversation would be a good place to start.