CURRENT MISSION

Wander around my homelet

ABOUT ME

I just got back from my first couchsurfing adventure, so I’m updating my profile.

If I could create my perfect world, it would be filled with people like the hosts and other couchsurfers I met in Portland. And, of course, with the food cart pods. Seriously. I didn’t get to eat at all of them, and need to come back. Now. Yesterday. ;)

Everyone was so open-hearted, welcoming, kind, laid-back and generous with their time, conversation, knowledge and homes…it was just really amazing. People were so trusting. People really wanted to spend time with each other – and get to know each other. It was just a great give and take, and was so refreshing to have the value taken off money, and put onto human interaction and kindness.

I’m so excited to become more involved with this community…travel more, meet new people – and have my own home-away-from-home to offer y’all once I’ve got my own apt. in Sonoma, CA. XOX to everyone I met on my trip who made it so great! I want to meet more of you; you’re my kind of people. :) Besos, Hari

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I'm a funny, irreverant, sassy kinda chick. English citizen, born in Holland, a resident alien in the US.

I'm secretly the love-child (and in some ways very like) Alanis Morisette, Leonard Cohen and Woody Allen. I know, visually that's kinda disturbing so please don't go there. Obviously that makes me someone with a pretty big personality, full of contradictions. Who thinks waaayyyy too much.

Things that make me pause because I'm afraid to tell you but you need to know: I suffer from Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, which involve many different symptoms. Because one of them is insomnia and needing quiet, I need my own space to sleep. But that can be my car, a tent.... Anyway, the illnesses are not who I am...but they definitely impact my life.

Less dreadful is the fact that I'm allergic to almonds.

PHILOSOPHY

Tread lightly

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

By being very grateful, generous, giving what I can and accepting what is given with a smile. Can't wait to have my own pad and host. Yay! I LOVE hearing about your life adventures or anything else you'd like to share. I have a car and can show people around. I'll buy you chocolate most likely too. How can that be anything but great?!?

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Oh, daammn. I put this in the wrong section. Aargh. It's at the top. Oh well. It's important, so it's going to stay there.

Before couchsurfing myself, this was my response: I'm friends with people in a trans/queer collective in Seattle and have met so many awesome couchsurfers through them. Some just stay for a day, some end up staying for months and moving here. I love talking with other adventuresome and wanderlusting people, and learn soooo much. Sometimes it's a nice 'connection', and other times it's a beautiful challenge that is really life-changing. My goodness, talking to the sherpa from Tanzania pushed my brain to places it had never gone before. Our life experiences and worldview were sooo different I didn't know where to 'meet' him. He didn't relate at all to the anxiety, worry, shame and existential angst that many Westerners feel daily. Or to the concepts of 'ownership' or concept of individuality as I experience it. Mind blown.

Interests

Loves: Swimming in alpine lakes, oceans, large puddles...snorkeling, scuba diving. Fuscia, orange and yellow preferably next to each other, dancing at night outside, vintage/retro wear and wares, meals and meetings filled with gratitude, lavender, puppies ears, old bicycles, all-things-wanderlusting (Central America and South America are calling. Do you live on an organic farm in Costa Rica near Caribbean waters? *Sigh* Spanish and Portuguese are so beautiful they make me love-sick, bare feet in dewy grass, travelogues, and tea. Slightly obsessed with tea and 'vintage' clothing/jewelry.

• animals
• culture
• dancing
• animal welfare
• education
• ethics
• dining
• cooking
• chocolate
• vegetarian
• vegan
• massage therapy
• crafts
• clothing
• music
• scuba diving
• snorkeling
• buddhist
• swimming
• anthropology
• teaching
• psychology
• religion
• lakes

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Patty Griffin, Dar Williams, Leonard Cohen, 80's dance music is good for dancing, Brazilian and Caribbean Pandora picks.

Books: Travelogues, biographies, Barbara Kingsolver, Milan Kundera, Edward Abbey

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Lived in Buddhist monasteries.

Snorkelling and scuba diving are amazing...and so is a piece of orange..especially when you haven't been allowed to eat fruit for two years.

Teach, Learn, Share

Well, If you want to learn about Buddhism in America, Medical Anthropology/ethics, vegetarian-ism, vegan-ism (yes, I will cook you rockin' meals...and no I won't judge you for eating meat, animal welfare/rights, 'queer issues', massage therapy..and what it's like to live with 'invisible illness'... The last one is a bit tabboo in US-ian culture, but most people have family or friends who 'look fine' but are not - and I would love to talk to people about the best way to support them. My MA is in Health Education, and I studied a lot about health psychology...so yes, ask me.

I like hearing stories from your childhood, the strangest thing you've done, the thing you're most proud of... . And be introduced to new music, authors, and new places to swim in fresh water.

What has made you 'You'. (DNA aside)

Countries I’ve Visited

Antigua and Barbuda, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Dominica, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Martinique, Mexico, Netherlands, Romania, Saint Lucia, Switzerland, Tunisia, United States, Virgin Islands, British

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, United Kingdom, United States

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