CURRENT MISSION

When I travel, I come to learn about the culture and the people. If there is time after that, I'll go see the sights.

ABOUT ME

I am currently a sophomore in college studying engineering, at Olin College of Engineering in Needham, MA. I was a homeschooled for the last for years of my childhood, and am now a learner for life. I have lived all my life in the Boston area, and will be here for another four years, so it is important to me to spend some time with people living in other cultures. There is no better way to understand others then to spend time with them!

Things you may want to know about me...
I am interested in senses and perception, cognition, and neuroscience.
I hope to someday be a programmer working in this space.
I want people to see what they are capable of. I think people in general are pretty incredible. I like to learn about them, what inspires them, motivates them, makes them feel alive.
I play the violin. I have for 10 years. I love it so much. It is, to me, a fantastic form of communication.
I am an artist. This to me is more the way I think of things, than how much time I spend making what people call art. I want my life to be a life of creating beautiful things.
I like hugs... very much.

I am very independent. Or better said, I prize my independence highly.
I enjoy traveling on my own and with other people.
I really like flowers, and gardens, and the woods.
Sometimes, I wish I was a bird. Actually, a lot of the time.
I want to encourage people to chase their dreams, make the most out of the resources they have, and take risks.

I like you... If I haven't met you, chances are high that I'd like to. There is something to be learned from every person, and something to give back.

PHILOSOPHY

I'm unable to formulate a personal philosophy, but if I could, it'd involve love, learning, music, harmony, hard work, and creativity.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Unfortunately, I am not at a point in life where I can often participate in couchsurfing. College occupies all my time, and my breaks are generally spent with my family.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I traveled around Europe with a friend the summer before my freshman year in college, couchsurfing and hosteling. It was an incredible experience, but I'd definitely say the best part was meeting new people. I remember sitting on top of a mountaintop in Graz, Austria, drinking champagne and listening to to my host and her friends sing Austrian folk songs.
In terms of unofficial experiences, I've hosted friends, stayed at the houses of friends, and lived in community with others.

Interests

Engineering, violin, music in general, beads, homeschooling, unschooling, alternative learning styles, acrobatics, traveling, cooking, flowers, garment design, interior design,

• arts
• culture
• singing
• design
• interior design
• dancing
• cooking
• drinking
• flowers
• traveling
• pottery
• music
• violin
• sailing
• calligraphy
• engineering
• neuroscience
• software

Music, Movies, and Books

Books (in no particular order):
This is Your Mind on Music
Anna Karenina
The Giver
The Thirteen Reasons Why
Uglies Pretties Specials
The Slaughterhouse 5
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Good Earth
The Illustrated Man
Damien
Siddhartha
Ender's Game
Rebecca
Catch Me If You Can
The Metamorphosis

Music:
Alanis Morissette
Carsie Blanton
Dar Williams
A Fine Frenzy
Broadcast 2000
The Duhks
Regina Spector
Yeil Naim
Rodrigo y Gabriela
Loreena McKennitt
Joan Baez
Jason Mraz
Hilary Hahn
Ingrid Michaelson
Feist
Claire Dickson
Cat Stevens
Capercaillie
Bob Dylan
Joni Mitchell
Bill Staines
Bach
Coldplay
Cake
Alison Krauss
Jesca Hoop
Nickel Creek
David Bowie
Joshua Bell

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Played Beethoven
Swam across Walden pond and back.
Been on the third layer of a castell tower.
Built a pressure varying calligraphy robot.

Teach, Learn, Share

Engineering, pottery, sailing, making music, dancing, cooking, creating things

I am so, absolutely looking forward to CouchSurfing University. That style of living is how I want my whole life to be.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States