CURRENT MISSION

Being open to the universe and trying to be the best person I can. *

ABOUT ME

I am divorced not married anymore but I can’t get it to change on the app.

I love to travel, whether it is driving, flying, riding my bike...since I was a small child my family has always been one that travels. My next trip is back to rural Mexico, one of my favorite places in the world.

I have CSed a lot. In October 2013, my friend Oy and I went to Thailand! It was so awesome. There are many things about me. One is that I am VERY outgoing. Another is that I am short but strong. I want to see and learn as much as humanly possible, dance, try local drinks and make new friends (the drinks probably help with all the rest). I love dogs and being outdoors. I don't mind if you underestimate me at first, but I really enjoy impressing you.

While I try not to take myself or life too seriously, I am pretty dedicated to making this world a better place than I found it. I know it sounds corny but I love social justice projects and people who want to change the world. You inspire me!

PHILOSOPHY

Travel, explore, treat others as you would like them to treat you and be grateful every day, whose corollary is: eat, drink and be merry. Also, RUN FREE and enjoy the great outdoors.

I think that we are all more connected than we realize and, at the same time, we make our lives complicated when they don't need to be. We should watch less TV and play less on TV/games, that's my philosophy. Go out and DO!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I have been a surfer and host. I only wish I could do it more...it is really fun!

Without counting the CSers who crashed at my house after the party down the street....wink wink...I have hosted almost 30 beautiful souls! I am getting back into hosting here in Miami but it is challenging.
Wowee! If I have left any friends off here, just let me know and I'll add you (my memory is not always the best!)

Jan 2008 Doug Bohannon (Gasparilla)
Jan.2008 Dennis Crow (Gasparilla)
Feb 2008 Sergio Anaya
Feb 2008 Scott Moore
Feb 2008 Eduardo Arias and Eloide (France)
April 2008 The Rev Bastien
June 2008 Lady Lawyer AKA Cynthia
June 2008 Serhat Sag and friend
October 2008 Brandon Burrell
November 2008 Abhinav Singhania (and he hosted me in India)
March 2009 Ivan Gallegos
May 2009 Asaf Biron
July 2009 Michael Gary
July 2009 Corina Graff and Desiree Franz
July 2009 Terry and friends (Indian River CS Amb)
August 2009 Lorraine Russo and Jesusito (?)
October 2009 Tim Roelandt
October 2009 Mateo Herrera
November 2009 Deanna Savage and cousin
May 2010 Matias Cabezas
May 2010 Rebecca Davidson
July 2010 Luciano DeAndrade
January 2011 Ari Gold
June 2011. Demelza and Glenn
August 2011 Elizabeth, Pieter and Jim
September 2011 PRZEMEK KOLENKIEWICZ and Katya
October 2011 Sophie Hilaire and Nick Matics
July 2012 Jose Luis (Miami)
September 2012. Heather Howard (miami)
September 2012. Elisabeth Besamer Miami
October 2012 Elisabeth Besamer. Miami
October 2012. Gareth Peard. Miami
December 2012. Margie Henry, Miami
April 2013. Esmeralda Herrero, Tampa
May 2013. Jose Luis Amador, Tampa
July 2013. Simon Kratzer, Miami

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Turkey: İzmir and Istanbul (Galip and Fatosh)-9/2007
Phoenix, AZ (LARRY!)-5/2008
Miami Beach, FL (Hiroki)-1/2008
Washington DC (Caryl and Toni) then Toni again-1/2009
Walnut Bottom, PA (near Shippensburg)(Eric and Diana)-10/2008
Chandigarh and Delhi, India (with Abhinav and friends)
Gainesville, FL (Heather)-12/2008
Davis Island, Tampa, FL (Susan and Sarah Fox)-7/2009
Humboldt County, Arcata, CA (Mateo Herrera)-9/2009
New Orleans, LA for VooDoo Fest (Robert Connelly)-11/2009
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (Austen Bradbury and Laura)-12/2009
Miami/Aventura, FL (Rob Greeley) - 3/2010
Merida, Yucatan, MX (Daniel Estrella) - 3/2010
Flagstaff, AZ (Scott and Amanda!) - 5/2010
Baltimore, MD (Ivan Gallegos) - 7/2010
Washington, DC (Toni and Sam + dogs) - 7/2010
Avellino, ITALIA (Ivana Coluccino and family) - 12/2010
St. Augustine, FL (April and Conrad Matt) - 2/2011
Hollywood, SC (Scott and Tricia Moore) - 8/2011
Washington, DC (Toni and Same + dogs again) - 8/2011
Toronto, Canada (Maram!!! Bathsheba) - 4/2013 MUAH
Bangkok, Thailand (Sutheera K!) Two times - 8/2013

CS is a far more intimate and enjoyable experience than staying in hotels. When people ask me, "Aren't you worried about staying with strangers?" I always answer, "You stay with strangers in hostels and hotels, but at least you feel like you know the hosts in CS."

Interests

I love to be outside - beach, mountains, parks, forests, etc....
Animals
Running
Strong coffee
Learning new things
Dancing
Good rum - like MYERS or Appleton Estates (not Bacardi)
Patron tequila
Friends
Listening to wise people
Cooking (especially ethnic dishes)

• animals
• dogs
• dancing
• education
• cooking
• coffee
• running
• partying
• drinking
• flying
• tv
• traveling
• eating out
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• teaching
• law
• medicine
• beaches
• parks
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

I am eclectic. What can I say? I just like what I like, which is almost every kind of music except country - I know my brother loves his truck but really I don't appreciate the song too much. He he! I watched this movie called "The Fountain" and I admire what they were trying to do but really it was kind of weird. Hugh Jackman becomes a plant. I watch a lot of different movies but Pedro Almodovar from Spain is my favorite director of all time. He is followed by the Coen Brothers, Mel Brooks and Woody Allen. This is not extensive but gives you an idea. I actually paid to see Walk Hard!

Books: anything by Carl Hiaasen (I love his work), John Irving (Ciderhouse Rules), Franz Kafka was a genius, I also like chick-lit. I am a geek so I read a lot.

Music: I love Gogol Bordello, rock en espanol and reggaeton, world music, I have seen Mana twice and Cafe Tacuba. Love live music. You can easily coax me to dance, and NO, I am not drinking.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Carnaval Rio de Janiero 2007
Capadoccia, Turkey - I loved Goreme 2008
Hiked in Nepal - 2008 (WOW)
Redwoods National Forest - 2009
We climbed Yosemite's Half Dome - 2009 (amazing)
Grand Canyon again - 2010
Devil's Bridge (AZ) - 2010
Fireworks on New Year's Eve at Rome's Coliseo - 2010/11
Abhinav and Monica's Wedding in Chandigarh India - 2012
Ziplined through Northern Thailand Rain Forest - 2013
Whitewater Rafted through Northern Thailand - 2013
Lots of fun in Miami Beach, especially Halloween on Lincoln Road, 10/13

I am extremely privileged to work in diverse communities where I see the best (and worst) of humanity all the time. Even though there are rough spots, I am generally amazed at people in a good way. People have such amazing capacities to love, laugh and survive this crazy world. I am truly blessed to be a part of social change.

I teach at various universities (University of So FL, Florida International University) and have an amazing group of student activists I advise. I also work at the Florida Institute for Community Studies and teach and do research. Actually, I am looking for mentees and mentors.

Bathed with elephants in Nepal. Taught many many kids to read...Made some people smile.

Teach, Learn, Share

Paolo Freire rocks. I am enamored by his Pedagogy of the Oppressed (1973) and his concepts about the need to create critical conciousness in order to help people figure out who the oppressors are and do something about it. You can read more about him at 'Paulo Freire and informal education', the encyclopaedia of informal education.
http://www.infed.org/thinkers/et-freir.htm
Last update: May 29, 2012]

I do community-based participatory research. Ask me about this if you have a LOT of time. :)

What I Can Share with Hosts

I ****absolutely ***** dislike this stupid question, CSHQ.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, France, Greece, India, Italy, Mexico, Nepal, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, Virgin Islands, British

Countries I’ve Lived In

Mexico, Spain, United States

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