I try so much to stress this point, but feel people ignore this.

Raised in Northern California where at the age of 12 (early 1970's) I became interested in electronics, including the “new” digital electronics technology. By the time I graduated from High School, I had already completed some college classes, primarily electronics (broadcast communications) and computers (design theory). I had also designed and developed hardware and software solutions (personal and school projects).

Paralleling this is that at the age of 13, I had already been aware of and interested in environmental issues. I had actually designed an "invention" then to address one of the issues (and to be profitable), but did not pursue it. My concerns with social issues continued to grow and expand over time.

After High School, I went to West Germany as an exchange student for one year. I had a very different than the usual experience, which started a process of gaining a greater understanding of many things. But these understandings were at a lower level, requiring time to develop and become clear.

After returning from West Germany, I continued to college, which I then stopped after a year for a job at a TV station, where I was the "digital expert", funny enough. I then moved into the computer industry where I started as a Service Manager for a ComputerLand store in the early 1980's, and later branched into free-lance programming and consulting.

Although I had mastered a wide variety of computer technical skills, and my problem solving skills were very refined, my focus became more clear on social issues, and less so about my own life or desires. As time progressed, and by continuing to study, research, and learn more about society and social issues, I have developed a complex project to address social issues of concern to me and others.

There is a lot more I have to say about me and the desire, and attempts, to immigrate to the Netherlands.

There is a huge list of reasons, scattered about this site, and maybe others, of why the Dutch culture fits me. (And a whole lot about why I don't fit in the Euro-American culture.)

I found this note :
Another reason why I fit in NL = I say things backwards or wrong, even in English, and people can understand and don't care as long as they get the message. And if they don't they usually try to work to understand.
This is in contrast to the u.s.a., where anything said wrong is a point to attack. So in the Netherlands I don't have to "feel stupid" and get funny looks...

Not much to say here. Visit the page for more on insane...