Allison Barbieri

Having been married to my college boyfriend since 2005, I am a mother to one little boy born on New Year's Eve in 2008. I run a school-age childcare program in an at-risk neighborhood, and I am working towards a MA to teach students with special needs. Although I currently live in Boston, my desire to to move my family back to my hometown in Pennsylvania.

Raised in a small Pennsylvania suburb but currently living in the city, I value the attributes of small-town living but can appreciate the opportunties that come with city-living. Growing up with little diversity, it was only as a young adult that I began to understand and appreciate other cultures. My year abroad in England further solidified my passion for learning about foreign countries and cultures, and I now take every opportunity to speak to people from other countries to better learn about their experiences and traditions. It is my greatest desire to travel Europe, Africa and Australia with my husband and son (and any future children we many have).

Although I was raised a tradition minded Lutheran, I have had a spiritual awakening in the last few years that led me to appreciate a more contemporary style of worship. I would say I am a "born again" Christian in that my old self died when my heart was filled with Christ's love and forgiveness. It is taking a lot of work to actually live my life as a good witness, and it is something I will continue working on my entire life.

I am forever trying to find ways to expand my knowledge and I have an insatiable thirst for learning. I spend hours on the computer looking up information, finding myself led from subject to subject as my search continues. Such searches have led me to have what I call "Jeopardy" knowledge...random tid-bits stored away in my brain.

Currently, I am on a mission to drop two clothing sizes by the spring. I am doing this with diet, exercise, and will-power to avoid sweets.