CURRENT MISSION

Read!

ABOUT ME

I've just finished a Ph.D. in English literature and now teach at a college; I focus on medieval religious texts in England, Germany, and the Netherlands. But I love getting the chance to teach all kinds of different things.

I've also been very lucky to live abroad for about five years -- a semester in Berlin, a year in Glasgow, a year in Cologne, two years in rural Japan, and a semester in Florence!

I love learning new languages and experiencing new things. My travel philosophy is heavily based on wandering, getting lost, getting confused, and, of course, eating! I've never been Scuba-diving, but I really want to learn!

PHILOSOPHY

Friends, Family, Books, Music, Travel

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

A whole lot more with HC (also username iksnezor), but was convinced in 2008 in Syria that CS is better community-wise! But yes, with 5 or 6 years of HC, only joy and happy friendships! Now I've been enjoying CS, and have met wonderful people in Sardinia and Brazil. HC/CS have changed the way I travel and the way I understand and plan travel. Truly life-transforming.

Interests

I sing a lot, especially opera. I hike as often as I can... preferably for weeks at a time. Hitchhiking reminds me that people are good, and I don't need to depend on a car. My cats, well, I'm a cat person. I can't host someone who is allergic, unfortunately, but I'll be thrilled to meet your cats if you have them! And dogs, birds, lizards, and fish, for that matter

• cats
• dogs
• birds
• fish
• books
• literature
• singing
• perfumes
• traveling
• music
• opera
• fishing
• hiking
• scuba diving
• languages
• hitchhiking

Music, Movies, and Books

I think I can never see Dr. Strangelove or The Big Lebowski too many times.

Life without Bach wouldn't be worth living.

Mainly Medieval at work (Beowulf! Chaucer!), but I love all kinds of books, from a children's Afrikaans-English picture dictionary to Let's Go Travel Guides to Anne Carson's poetry.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Getting to the top of Kilimanjaro on my 27th birthday. Going to Burning Man the summer of 2007 and 2011.
Reaching Santiago de Compostela after hiking 500 miles to get there.

• 

•