The first of the four papers in this symposium, "What Is It Like To Be an Independent HRD Consultant?" (Alexander Ardishvili), reports on a phenomenological study that investigated the experience of being an independent HRD (human resource development) consultant through interviews with 10 successful HRD consultants. The study identified eight themes: freedom, flexibility, and control over one's destiny, time, and income; enjoying work; learning and exploring a variety of new things; responsibility; embracing the tenuous nature of things and coping with uncertainty; marketing, partnering, and referrals; working long hours; and focus. "Virtual Learning Communities: Creating Meaning Through Dialogue and Inquiry in Cyberspace" (Judy Milton, Mike Davis, Karen E. Watkins) provides a qualitative analysis of the interactions that occurred within small groups in an asynchronous, web-based distance learning environment, with findings suggesting elements (presented as a model) that contributed to or hindered the development of these groups as learning communities. "Conducting Multilingual Qualitative Research in Human Resource Development: Implications for Validity and Reliability" (Maria Cseh) addresses the question of ensuring the validity and reliability of a qualitative study conducted in more than one language. "An Ethnographic Study of Cross-Cultural Impacts on Tutoring in an Organization" (Lori A. Petersen), portrays one organization's use of tutoring in the Japanese language of a midwestern white male by a Japanese female instructor. (KC)