A Few Words About Me

In a Nutshell

If I could sum it all up in about 100 words or less.... I would probably (unfortunately) end up using about 1000.

Born & raised in Westmont, Illinois, (in the north-central part of the United States) for around the first 30 years or so of life. During this time, I went through the high school routine and passed through the university as well. During my university time I would learn a number of things, but two experiences in particular would shape the future

I had the opportunity to spend 3 months in the south-central part of Chile, in a city called San Pedro de la Paz (Which is next to Concepción, an even larger city).
I discovered the computer lab in the basement of student housing.

For real. I became fascinated with the World Wide Web. In the really early years - we're talking 1997 - I would go to the basement of student housing and search for "How to create a website" on the internet. Since I was a poor university student, the only hosting I could access was ...*gasp*... GeoCities (I hang my head in shame).

Little by little, as the years passed by, I became more adept at designing, and coding. Instead of hitting the bars, I was taking my first steps in learning CSS, HTML, PHP...

I also discovered that, once I learn how to do something, I enjoy explaining how it works to other people. This is where the "pedagogical love" part of my education comes in, I suppose.

Well, once the university part of life was over, it took a few years to figure out what (or where) I wanted to do this "life" thing. So I took the crazy decision to move to Chile.

The Southern Adventure

The actual process of moving to Chile was looooong and involved sleeping (somewhat) in the Atlanta airport and the 14-hour flight with all my possessions. But once I arrived in Chile, things got better quickly. I started working in an institute in the city of Chillán, which connected me to many wonderful people (including my wife). And 2 years later our child was born! =)

A strange turn of events led me to start working with TeachingChile, the company that provided me a foothold in Chile. I began by working freelance on periodic website updates, while also working some freelance work on the side under the name Imaginalgo. and joined the team at the start of 2012. This was my first taste of "remote work". At the same time I wrapped up work at a language institute in Valdivia - to present it has been the last job I was required to "go to".

Shift to Design

I was soon sought out by another language institute which offered me the chance to teach classes via the internet - I continued with both of these remote jobs for the next several years. In 2017 I shifted gears and began working with Optuno as a Web Designer and later as a Project Manager, which I continue to enjoy to the present.

Looking to make contact? Drop me a line at hello [at] elmikewalsh [dot] com.