CURRENT MISSION

To learn about the people who live in the countries I visit, not merely to look at monuments

ABOUT ME

I am all about cider and work in the industry in Oregon. I am love growing vegetables in my garden and cooking! I love swing dancing and doing improv too. Traveling helps me put things in perspective and I love seeing how other people live.

I studied abroad in Montpellier, France, during college where I learned what I like about the French culture that I want to keep with me forever. What a wonderful experience. I then moved from college in Los Angeles to the rural Oregon coast and now back to my hometown, Portland. I spent 3 months traveling through Italy a couple years ago, WWOOFing and couchsurfing and meeting incredible people.

I want to keep traveling for the rest of my life. The world is so big and there are so many interesting people on this earth. I love seeing new places.

I am a very open-minded person who LOVES food. I love cooking, and lately am having to learn how to cook without onions or garlic as I'm now allergic. I love asian style cooking, but am experimenting with so many other foods. I love that so little traditional food is processed. It is very balanced and nutritional and SO GOOD.

PHILOSOPHY

I am still working out my own personal philosophy. I try to stay open to new ideas and as flexible as I can in life.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I am very curious about people. I like learning about the similarities and the differences among humans. I think people are generally very warm and curious to meet others. I have hosted some, but don't often have my own space to lend out. I have also surfed in several countries and all experiences have been positive.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

My studying abroad friends raved about couchsurfing, so I signed up. I got to surf in Toulouse with a very friendly couple and I also surfed with several people in Spain. In the US, I've surfed in North Carolina, and I hope to continue surfing in the future.

I have also acted as a host when I lived on the Oregon coast.

I see couchsurfing as a wonderful way of meeting interesting people who you may never meet any other way. Couchsurfing takes you out of your normal social circle and shows you how people live.

Interests

Swing dancing, reading, gardening, fencing, Quidditch, cooking, playing tennis, painting.

When I say Quidditch, I really did play. I went to a very small college in Los Angeles, where I started my own Quidditch team. I cannot take credit for coming up with the idea, but when I saw other colleges playing this goofy sport, I started one at my school. Ask me about the rules when you meet me!

• animals
• culture
• dancing
• dining
• cooking
• baking
• working out
• gardening
• reading
• traveling
• painting
• surfing
• sports
• fencing
• tennis
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

I love Bond films; I Heart Huckabees; Monty Python and the Holy Grail...

I'm a huge fan of fiction. I love Jodi Picoult and Isabel Allende books. I love reading books about cooking, like "Hot Sun, Cool Shadow," but also, I love drooling over Julia Child cook books. Recently picked up a Bill Bryson book and laughed out loud.

I am from Portland, OR, where music is a big deal, so I grew up with loads of music. My father is Scottish, so I have grown up listening to bagpipes, and celtic music. But I am super into American Indie and Alternative Rock. I love the Cranberries, Decemberists, Pink Martini, Jack Johnson, Feist, Muse, Vampire Weekend, Regina Spektor, Belle and Sebastian, Rilo Kiley, Avett Brothers, The Kooks, Frou Frou, Emily Loizeau...and more recently can't stop listening to old jazz.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I went to the Arctic Circle four summers ago and had the privilege of seeing Polar Bears. The world so far north is incredibly different. It is pristine and absolutely beautiful. The land is not for the weak and the animals that exist there are stunning.

Teach, Learn, Share

I will tell you all about Quidditch and I will try to teach you some about cooking, although I have SO much to learn still about cooking. I love to share cultures too. I enjoy learning specific words in languages that are used in very specific regions. I think a language really shapes a place.

I can also share with you the American school experience and how school gardens are really shaping our culture all of a sudden.

Countries I’ve Visited

Ecuador, Israel, Italy, Norway, Peru, Spain

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, Switzerland, United States

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