His interests include science and math, psychology, languages, and cultural differences. Stan is also an avid amateur bowler.

Besides teaching, Stan has worked as a security guard, a bookstore clerk, an editor, and as the manager of a language school.

1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here?
I arrived in 2005, just after the 20th of August. I came here to escape Japan in my case, bringing my wife and step-daughter with me. I also hoped to advance my career in ways that were not possible in Japan.

2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere?
Yes, I lived in Japan for 8 years.

3. What surprised you most about Hungary?
The way bureaucracy seems to creep into everything, how complicated it looks from the outside, and how easy it is to deal with once inside.

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do?
Must see Buda Castle; Matyas Templom is quite nice, as well as the Synagoga in Astoria. Also, a walk along the Duna; best if it?s in summer.

5. What is your favourite Hungarian food?
Véres hurka ? best stuff on the planet. I?m also partial to almás rétes; while not especially Hungarian, it?s quite good here.

6. What is never missing from your refrigerator?
Turo Rudi and some sort of Hungarian wine ? I like them all.

7. What is your favourite Hungarian word?
?T?z elalszik.? I know it isn?t one word but it?s my favorite term ? the fire falls asleep! Different thinking than English when we say a fire ?goes out.?

8. What do you miss the most from home?
Crabs, from the ocean. I grew up near the coast in Maryland and they were dirt cheap back home.

9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
Two things. One is as an editor; I worked as one in the States before and really enjoyed it ? especially politics and science writing. Secondly, as a manager of some sort ? I enjoy the challenge of organizing people.

10. What's a job you would definitely never want?
I?d hate to work as an accountant. It?s necessary, but I can?t imagine how it?d be interesting.

11. Where did you spend your last vacation?
Vienna. Went there for the second time, and we really liked it again.

12. Where do you hope to spend your next one?
Croatia mainly, mostly because everyone here goes there and we haven?t yet.

13. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
Band (Rap Group) - De La Soul
Film - Star Wars (any, all)
Hobby - Computer games

14. What can't you resist?
A good joke. Something sardonic or wry.

15. Red wine or white?
White, semi-sweet.

16. Book or movie?
Book, of course. Can?t carry a movie around town, can you?

17. Morning person or night person?
Both. Seriously.

18. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?
The way minorities are treated. As one myself, I know what it?s like to be spit on for just existing.

19. Buda side or Pest side?
Pest, naturally, because that?s the side I live on.

20. What would you say is your personal motto?
"Ability is nothing without opportunity"
Napoleon Bonaparte