Liam

@Waitsjunkie

Active member

American expat in England

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American

Lives in Bristol

Speaks English

Registration: 11 June 2012

About Activity

I'm was born and raised in southern Ohio. I first came to England to go to uni for a year in 1998 and met my future wife there. After bouncing back and forth over the ocean for a few years we got married in 2004 and I've been living here in England since early 2005. I have a BA in theatre from Ohio State and an associate degree in electronic communication from Ohio University, but my career to date has been largely doing not-for-profit admin in the UK. I also enjoy volunteering when time and energy allow, most recently at Bristol's Feeding the 5000 event. :)

Interests: music, films, relaxing, travel, sci-fi, real ale, photography, guitar, graphic novels, reading, , théâtre, singing, computer gaming

Since 2011

Bristol, England

I have been working for the Bristol and Avon Chinese Women's Group since January 2012 as a part-time administration assistant and fundraiser. I also participate in a local American expats group, volunteer with a bi-monthly seniors computer cafe and participate in a befriending service for elderly locals. I try to stay fairly active and attend as many events as possible around this beautiful city.
As above, I do administration and fundraising for a small Chinese support group. This is mostly office based work, though it does allow me to attend some events and try a lot of interesting new food. Much to my shame I still don't speak more than a few words of Cantonese or Mandarin after more than five years.
Bristol is so much more laid back than London. The people are friendlier, it has a great creative atmosphere and there's lots of green space. It's also a Labour stronghold in the south which suits me fine.
Constant traffic congestion and construction. Cash strapped council. Questionable public transport. Some of the more parochial attitudes.

2005 - 2011

London, England

I spent most Friday nights for four years working in a soup kitchen at local church. I also went outo to the cinema, theatre and gigs pretty often.
I worked for Gingerbread for four years doing various work, but primarily supporting single parent meeting groups. I also worked for a housing charity and a disability charity doing various admin work.
It's London!
Too busy and stressful. A lot of people were so rushed that there was no time for anybody else.

Sept 1999 - Jun 2002

Columbus, OH, USA

I was a BA student at Ohio State studying theatre. Emphasis on acting.
I worked in a photo processing shop through my time at university. Loved some of the people, enjoyed seeing the pictures, hated the job itself.
Columbus is about the right size for me. You're never far from the countryside, yet it's fairly cosmopolitan, too. Plus having the large student population of OSU really adds to the city's energy.
Not much, really. I wouldn't have left if I weren't going to London for six months after I graduated.

Sept 1998 - Jul 1999

Lancaster, England, England

I was a student doing a study year abroad. Technically I was an art major, but I was studying life more than anything. I also had classes in religious studies, photographics and medieval history.
Unemployed.

Sept 1978 - Sept 1998

Scottown, OH, USA

I grew up here. Played in the high school band. Worked. Did some community theatre. Spent a couple years at Ohio University Ironton.
School, mostly. Did some work in retail stores and worked a couple summers doing various work for a gas company.
The countryside, being close to nature. My "town" was nothing more than a small cluster of houses and farms.
The backwardness of some of the attitudes and everyone knowing and judging everybody else's business. Outside of the cities, Ohio is very much a red state where I'm more purplish blue.