KevinMichael's VirtualTourist Home Page

If I could live a few thousand years without the whole aging process, then I'd live in hundreds of cultures and learn thousands of other languages. Alas, my greatest limitation is not money but time. Money I can make. Time is ever fleeting.

I'm not content with mediocrity. Doing is everything, or it is at least how I look at what needs to be done, what I should do, and what I wish to do. Life seems to have more meaning by being an active participant than just watching it all go by. Therefore, I make it a point to stick to my goals.

Starting from desire, life is richer for not simply imagining doing things but actually doing them.

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One of the Giant Sequoias near Yosemite.

From California but living the dream in Japan.

I've met people back home in California who think that I'm living the kind of life they'd like to live and they wish that they could do the same. The thing is, that they could do the same. Of course, I spend a good portion of my year working, but then during my vacations I take off & go to somewhere other.
I don't think, "Ok. I want to do it." I think, "Ok. I'm doing it!"

It's really a life style choice. You either go through life doing the things you'd like to do or you go through life being a wannabe. Imagine when you get too old to do the things your dreams are made of. What a waste to go through life just wishing to be or wanting to go somewhere else and missing opportunities because of indecision or lack of motivation.

Hopefully, those of you who need it will find inspiration. And for my fellow doers in life, you probably need no encouragement from me. I am further inspired by the adventures of other VT travellers and how they've shown the world... that life is about doing.

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My beautiful wife

I Love My Wife

My wife and I were married on February 14, 2004 at 2:00 in Niigata City. She is the greatest treasure of my life and I have never been happier. Our marriage is the most defining chapter of my life so far. Our plans are to travel together to many places as our future unfolds.

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Honey & I

Life in Japan (honey & I)

I`ve been living in Japan for more than 10 years now. Life here is not really so different than life in the United States. We have a smaller place than my family back home but, I also think we have a lot more serenity. Other than the loud noises that occassionally come from some governmental wannabe (broadcasting loudly from a car or truck at 2000 decibles as they go by) Japan for us is relatively quiet and relaxing. It's life in the slow lane.

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Goals accomplished:

-High School wrestling & Black Belt in Judo
-Read & Write Hiragana & Katakana (I know... it's not such a big deal)
-Illustrated over 30 children's books
-Play the acoustic guitar, the piano, & the flute
-Developed, illustrated, and created hundreds of teaching materials
-Married the most wonderful woman on Earth

Continual goals:

-Been running a Japanese company for over 10 years
-Body building
-Salsa dancing
-Travelling with my wife
-Japanese & Kanji (little by little)
-play baseball, mountain bike, & hiking

Future goals:

-buy a home
-travel to Ireland again
-travel to Greece
-travel to California more
-travel to Hawaii again & again

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our Nephews & Nieces

Love the Children (our Nephews & Nieces)

From top to bottom left to right:
Ryouka & Yuujin (our Japanese Niece & Nephew) in Niigata, Japan in front of our school Christmas tree (my honey's brother's kids).

Ryan & Eric (our American Nephews) in Beijing, China (my sister's kids) in a 2-kid bicycle pulled stroller.

Casady & Kaitlin (our American Nieces) in Tracy, California (my brother Shane's kids) outside waiting to ride with Santa.

Uncle Matt (my brother-in-law) and my brother Pat's kid's identical twins Catherine (Kitty) and Elizabeth.

Sophie, Miles (the oldest), Brendan, Liea, my brother Pat's other kids.
Sophie and Liea are fraternal twins. So, in total my brother Pat has 6 kids.

We have 2 more coming I've heard.

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our English LOFT students

Christmas in Japan

We like to really bring the Christmas experience to our students here in Japan so we put in a lot of work to make it happen. The kids love it and have a great time. Santa joins us every year.

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My beautiful wife at home

Happy Anniversary & Valentines

February 14, 2008