Introduction to My Fudan Students

Dear Students,

Thank you for your written introductions. Writing to each of you individually would be an onerous task, given that there are over 120 of you. Thus, I am using this means to introduce myself to you.

When I was born, the United States was beginning to come out of The Great Depression. Franklin D. Roosevelt was the President of the United States, and he was leading the country in a recovery from very difficult economic times. For this, and other reasons, many people think of him as one of the greatest U.S. Presidents.

My mother named me Ronald, after the famous British actor Ronald Coleman. Ralph, my middle name, was my father's name. I was born in Punxsutawney in the state of Pennsylvania, a town known world-wide as the Groundhog Town. On February 1 each year, a groundhog comes out of its hole. The goundhog predicts how many more weeks of winter remain according to whether or not it sess its shadow. The film Groundhog Day, starring Bill Murray, is based on this event.

My three children, Joe, Anne, and Jennifer and two grandchildren, Raven and Sam live on the west coast of the United States. Since I live on hte east coast, in Richmond, Virginia, I see them once or twice a year. However, we keep in touch by telephone and email.

My first career was in banking, where I specialized in mortgage lending and real estate management. In 1992 I received a Master's Degree in linguistics with a specialty of Teaching English as a Foreign Language. My first teaching job was at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan. One year later I took a teaching job in the English Language Program at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia.

When I am not working I like to ride my road bike, cook and dine out, work crossword puzzles, and read. I also enjoy spending time with friends, either over dinners at home or at a restaurant or going to see a film.

I am excited to be at Fudan University and to be teaching English for one year. I look forward to meeting and working with many students there.