my life
Before the current phase in my life -- characterized by being a dad, a divorcé, a working computational linguist and a grad student -- I went through other phases. I'm not inclined to comment on all of them equally (after all, I'm not that fascinated with myself), but I'll link to stuff and comment as seems fit. Plus, I'm leaving out a ton of detail on purpose, because (a) it's personal and I don't tell just anybody (b) it can't be all that interesting, and (c) small personal details are like gold for con artists.
kidhood
I was born in California to an American Mom and an Iranian Dad. My earliest memories are of dad going to school and work, mom staying home, Romper Room, and Sesame Street. Visiting my grandparents, playing with cousins and neighbors. Good times.
When I was about 4, we moved to Iran, where my sister was born. While there, I got to know the other half of my family, watched the Six-Million-Dollar Man, got interested in electronics, watched my parents get divorced, and eventually got packed off to the next phase.
boarding-school
I went to two schools, Heatherdown (made quasi-famous in actor David Niven's autobiography) and Shiplake College. Heatherdown had quite the distinguished list of attendees, including Prince Edward and Prince Andrew. It was there that I learned to love languages, if not my language teachers.
Shiplake wasn't quite so distinguished, but I look back on my time there mostly with gratitude. It's where I enjoyed being in the orchestra, having my mathematical abilities nurtured, and being one of the founding members of the computer club.
I also discovered a knack for getting into trouble. Youthful indiscretions. 'Nuff said.
Oh and there was this revolution in Iran, and they took a bunch of hostages. I'm sure you've heard that part before. England being kind of a xenophobic place, and the circles I ran in being doubly so, this added, um, colo(u)r to those years. All of my family members eventually got out and made their way to North America.