Biography
*deep, hollow, impressive voice*
I was born, according to the official records, in the Year of the Ram, under the Element of Fire, when Johnson ruled the land with a heavy heart; in the Cradle of Liberty, to a family of bohemians. I studied Chinese language and literature at Rutgers University, New Brunswick. I spent some years in Taiwan teaching kindergarten during the day, and ESOL during the evenings. I currently work as a high school ESOL teacher, and am an unlikely martial artist. I have spent much of my life amongst actors, singers, movie stars, beautiful cultists, Taoist immortals, renegade monks, and at least one martial arts tzaddik....
...Okay, but seriously, it's all true.
My name is Michael F. Butchin. I was born to a family of scholars, musicians, actors, and singers. A Philadelphia native, I actualy grew up in the South Jersey suburbs.
I attended Rutgers University, New Brunswick, from which I graduated with a degree in Chinese Language and Literature. I also attended graduate school, where I read for Early Childhood Education. After graduation, I lived in Taiwan for several years, where I worked as a kindergarten and Pre-K teacher during the day, and as an ESOL instructor at night. I have also traveled extensively in China.
I currently reside in Beijing's Dongcheng district, in the Fensiting Hutong neighborhood, where I work as a high school ESOL teacher at the Beijing International Vocational Education School.
I also daydream of a time in which I can support myself with my writing in a nice home in my native city, or at least a decent apartment in Europe or Scandinavia. Alas, that would require a lot more skill, talent, and drive than I presently seem to possess. If anyone feels the compulsion to throw money at me, feel free.