Joffe Marciano, Linda

Hi, everyone! I hope you're like me--EXCITED about getting started with the new term! As you may know by now (depending on how much you've wandered around the course), my name is Linda Joffe and I live in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Even though I've lived many places around the world (England, Dominican Republic, Thailand, Hungary, Turkey--to name a few--and even Navy aircraft carriers), I keep returning to Ft. Lauderdale. In fact, I bought my very first home here, nine years ago. Those of you who've purchased homes know how exhausted I am by now! If one more person mentions The Money Pit, I think I'll scream--or bury myself underneath the wood floors that STILL aren't aligned correctly! I started college right out of high school, when I was 17.

I went to the University of Florida. Depending on whom you ask--I either had so much fun there or was too scared of entering the "real world." So, I kept enrolling in other degree programs. Finally (after a LOT of degrees), I realized I could stay in school by becoming a professor. Thus, not counting about 5 years in the business world, I've been in college for more than 30 years now! I love the online experience, and I've been teaching online for more than 15 years. In fact, I've given up all my other positions, and I teach exclusively online these days. (Well, not counting a really cool job where I fly down to teach in the Caribbean islands on the weekends.) If this sounds great--it is! Essentially, I work the hours I choose, and I could be at home in my pajamas or in a bathing suit on the beach. I'm not telling you this to "rub it in." No, instead, I want you to understand that I can enjoy this life because I worked hard in school and learned to be a good writer. You can, too! Nevertheless, I think I spend a lot more time working in the online classroom--and you'll find you will, as well--than in the traditional classroom.

On the other hand, the environment can be so much more fun. For example, every year I spend 1-2 weeks teaching from a cruise ship (where this picture was taken). Now you know a little bit about me (maybe more than you wanted to know!). I look forward to getting to know you. I teach writing classes—writing about our personal experiences, about issues, and about literature. Our “hard knocks” experiences teach others. Supporting arguments articulately and accurately ensures our readers are better informed. Good literature details the struggles ALL of us experience in our lifetimes. Contemplation helps us figure out how we can better everyone’s lives.