Lance Quillen

Mongolian Barbecue in Ann Arbor, MI, while going to EMU I was a waiter and a cook. I used to sing all the time to our customers, sometimes I'd bust out some Ricky Martin and sing 'Vive la Vida Loca' in Spanish while I was cooking their food. Many of you reading this think I might be making this up, but I imagine if you know me well, you know that I really did do these things! Besides, his English version is OK, but his Spanish version was more caliente!
I also worked at Taco Bell on EMU's campus for a month, and I swear I invented something...nacho de la bel grande, or something. EMU never officially trained me, so I was just mixing lettuce together with beans and chips and I did whatever I wanted to do.
I also worked as a substitute teacher by day at River Rouge High School for a few months and at nighttime I worked in the Deli Department in Super Kmart in Southgate. My students would come in at nighttime and would be like 'Hey, yo, Mr. Quillen, Is that you? Oh my god! What up Dawg! What up! What are you doing here? " And my response to this barrage of excited comments was always the same...'What am I doing here? I'm just keeping it real."
That's right, trying to make money as a substitute teacher in Michigan wasn't cutting it, so I cut up meat and cheeses at nighttime in their deli. Why do you think I moved out here to California? The economy here in 2004 was a lot more stable and there's no such thing as snow. Dont' get me wrong, I love Michigan and I would have stayed if I could....but how long should I have waited for a permanent teaching job?

EMU, April 2003 Spanish & English Secondary Education.....June 2006 Master's Degree, Educational Technology from National University in San Diego, CA

Enjoying my time with my wife Marcela and our son Leyn Mateo Quillen.

I also play roller hockey and ice hockey out here in southern California, in a Men's League with no checking. However, we 'goon it up' every now and then' and throw an elbow or a stick jab. It makes the game fun. I always tell the other team "Sorry about checking you into the boards in this non-contact league. I've been having involuntary muscle contractions lately. My mistake."

Teaching either Spanish or Math in southern California and travelling the world. So far, I have done both.
I imagined myself doing more volunteer work in another continent: This is yet to happen.

Sucre, Bolivia, for volunteer work through Amerispan Organization. I volunteered to teach Kindegarten in Spanish to kids in Bolivia.
It was a great experience. Managing 35 kids in one classroom where they all have to use the bathroom and they don't listen was a challenge. Many of these kids had never seen a blond haired person in their lives before, only in books or maybe in the movies, so I was stared at a lot.
Many will contend that while in Bolivia I went on an "International Wife Search' because I did meet my wife while on a tour of the city, and months later, she came to the U.S. and we got married. This was not my intention! ! !
¡Ay Dios Mío!

Also, my wife and I went to spend New Year's in Buenos Aires, Argentina a few years ago and we stayed with her Aunt and Uncle there (she has family in both countries). Lots of fun, great food and nice people!

Coming soon!

There is plenty you should know. During my senior year of college (right before student teaching) I grew out a vicious mullet. Joe Dirt didn't have anything on me.

I am left-handed and wear a size 10.5 shoe.

I was voted Corona High School's Weirdest Teacher for the 2004-05 School Year. (voted by the students)

I am getting married again this summer (to the same woman, Marcela Ramos Saavedra, of course!) We have to get married in her country, in Bolivia because this time her family will be there.

We are teaching our baby Leyn Mateo Quillen Spanish first, and then when he's older we'll speak to him in English too. We only speak Spanish at home! Sí Señor!

My wife is very intelligent and has her license to practice medicine in Bolivia. (or anywhere else in South America) She's working on getting her license here, she has to take a few classes to get the equivalent. We plan on staying in California for maybe 10 years, and we would like to raise our boy in South America.

Other things you should know:

I used to be an avid concert goer in high school and in college. To date, I have been to 173 concerts.

I plan on being serious at the 10 Year Reunion. :)

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