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Natalia - Thank you for your prompt responses. What subject or subjects do you teach? What grade level or what age of students do you teach? Do you teach all girls or all boys or both?
You mentioned that you had children. How many and how old are they? You did not mention a husband in you list of activites so I assume you are a single mom?
I hope you are not offended by my questions. You do not have to answer anything that you do not want to. I just think everyone is curious about you so I thought I would ask a few of the obvious questions. Please forgive me if I have been too forward.
I am not a teacher. I am a businessman. Jo and Haruka and Yuyang are teachers but I will let them tell you about themselves. I do not presume to speak for them.
My wife will be very happy to know what you and your daughter have said about her picture. You have just made a new friend by your comments. Her name is Cory (short for Corinne).
Jo - Thanks for coming back to us in your spare time. Thanks for posting the new pictures. The picture of Natalia was nice to see. Nice to put a face on the name. And the pictures that Haruka sent to you were interesting. I have never seen any fruit like the ones in the photos. Maybe someday Haruka and Benly and Yuyang will send us some pictures for the message board?
If you have any time left, you could always make some cookies and send them to this side of the pond. Something with chocolate maybe? (LOL) I wont hold my breath.
Bye for now, Duane

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The new life on this board over the last few days, a bit of friendly nagging from Duane (no, I know you weren't nagging really!), and the fact that my husband's away so I don't have to cook dinner(!) have motivated me to finally give some attention to my website again. I've posted a few pictures - check them out! And now I'm going to start archiving the last few months' messages so if you have any difficutlies accessing the messages this evening it's because I'm messing around with them!

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Duane, you kindly ask me to tell you more of me. The main thing regarding me is that I am a teacher, and it means that everyone, especially everyone in this group can clearly imagine how crazy and wonderful my life is. Lot of creative and sometimes boring paper work, 48 hours a day, my own kids, some good friends in my town and in the net...That's it. By the way, looking at your family picture and at your wife, my daughter said, "What a beautiful young lady!" I agree. And you too, I beleive:). What subjects do you teach? Jo, again, thank you for this board. I have the same question - what subjects you teach? What is the age of your students? How can so beautiful lady do so much work??? :) Benly, I am especially glad to join this site because of your (and Duane?) sharing such a sweet idea - how to make a million:) After reading your message I had even been thinking for some time: what is better for me - million of roubles? or dollars? or pounds? and how I would spend it:) Yes, my students would love to write to all of you, if you don't mind. Haruka, I am not sure if your previous message was addressed to me. If so, I felt that you are not a philosopher as Duane supposed but a very strict teacher, and if I were your student I would be afraid of you! Is that true, are you a very strict professor? How are your students?? Or perhaps I would fell in love with you so that you become "softer"...:) Is it possible in Japan?:) Have a nice day all.:) Natalia

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Natalia - I don't know if I could be considered a philosopher. It is said that wisdom comes with age. I think sometimes age comes by itself.
I will tell you that I love to chat with intelligent people and I love to chat with people in countries other than mine because I want to learn about them and their culture and hope they will be interested in me and mine. I find most people are delightful and chatting with them is a pure joy.
Please tell us more about yourself when you get the time. We would like to get to know you.
Jo - I can just see you sitting there in your dark castle, monitoring all this sinister email....actually, now that you have told me your secret, it's no longer a secret. There's an old Danish saying that says: "If you have a secret tell one, for what three know the world knows." And, what Duane knows will be on the internet by 0800 GMT. (LOL)
Very sorry to learn that you are so busy right now but I guess that is the choice you a have made for your life at this time. Some people handle it better than others. I suspect you are probably getting organized as fast as possible and will be running on all cylinders soon. I have a story I will send you. I think it is a good one. Hope you enjoy it.
Haruka - Again you are too kind. I don't think we are ever too young to teach or too old to learn. I think being a teacher (professor like you) would be an excellent career. I doubt if there are very many things that I could teach you. I think you could be the philosopher of this group.
Bye for now, Duane

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Hi Duane,

You are a clever man, your one million dollar idea is wonderful. Do you think it would work or not? If you really pass through the million-dollar mark, can I be the first one to borrow your golden idea to help me make my million pounds? That will be nice!!! Then everyone can take it in turn on here and then in a short amount of time we all will be millionaires. Wow!!! I really love your fantastic idea. I can’t wait!!!

PS. We warmly welcome our new comer “Natalia” on here and we would love to see you more often or you can invite your own students on here as well.