Hi from California. I have lived here all my life and love it very much. So if you want to know about California, let’s talk… For work, I am a programmer/analyst and working in the health care finance industry. It’s interesting to me but definitely not exciting work so I won’ bore you... :-) Until recently I haven’t had time for hobbies (single parent, career, etc.). But I love travel and photography. Travel wise; I have been to most of the United States, especially the west. I have also been to Canada, Costa Rica and Mexico. All of which were great and I would go back in a heartbeat. My short-term goal is to spend time in Central and South America. I am infatuated with ancient civilizations and loved the Mayan and Aztec ruins. South America is next. Long term, I want to explore more of the world. While I want to see the modern world, I am really interested in ancient places. As for photography, I have played with this for a while now. The main thing I proved is I don't have talent. But I keep trying... :-). But I appreciate great photography. My collection is mostly work I found online done by others. I have taken classes but you can't make up for talent (or the lack thereof). I’ve tried to learn Spanish for years (since I was a soccer - football referee years ago). But, Spanish isn’t easy for native English speakers. I have struggled for a long time and not made much progress. Recently, I picked up the challenge more seriously and am spending a couple hours a day trying to improve my skills. I think it is important if I plan to travel more in Latin America. What am I looking for on italki??? I am looking to practice and improve my Spanish skills. I want to focus on reaching out to others who are comfortable speaking Spanish. In exchange, I can help others improve their English skills. So, if you’re interested in talking online and trading language skills, look me up....