Michael was born in Kazakhstan and grew up in Ukraine. He moved to Maine with his family in 2000. Michael has taught French, Russian and English for more than twenty years to students of different nationalities, backgrounds and ages in various educational institutions – from public secondary schools and schools of higher education to private schools and colleges- in Ukraine, Thailand, Turkey, and the USA. Michael has traveled extensively in the USA, Asia, and Europe. He is very much into nature, hiking, meditation, and yoga. He also enjoys spending time with his 7-year-old grandson Felix and 5-year-old twin granddaughters Athena and Amelia, and learning from them how to be spontaneous and live in the moment.