My name is Emily Gottlieb. I was born in New Haven, Connecticut, but now I call Monterey, California my home. I grew up with my mom, my dad, and my older brother. When I was a kid, I loved learning about different cultures and languages. My great-grandparents are from Italy, and my parents spoke some Italian at home. My family is also Jewish, and I learned to read and write Hebrew from a young age. I started studying Spanish in high school and I loved it. I was lucky enough to travel in Costa Rica, Panama and Nicaragua when I was in college. I learned so much by connecting and communicating with people when I traveled. My favorite thing about learning new languages is that they open up doors to new cultures.
I have always loved spending time outdoors and studying biology. For several years after college, I traveled around the U.S.A. and worked as an environmental educator. I worked in California, Hawaii and Alaska and taught people about coastal ecosystems and wildlife. I watched humpback whales feeding on plankton, glaciers calving into the ocean and sea stars hiding in tide pools— all while I was at work! We have such a beautiful and diverse landscapes to explore in our own country.
