CURRENT MISSION

to soak up new experiences like a sponge, and then write about them

ABOUT ME

I graduated from college in 2013, so what better way to celebrate than travel a part of the world I've never visited? From December until mid-2014 I was in Thailand with my boyfriend, Phil, WWOOFing at farms scattered throughout the country. You can learn more about WWOOF, which is like Couchsurfing for sustainable farming, at their website: http://www.wwoof.org

Now we've settled into life in Washington, DC, which is uncannily not that difficult to do after six months of squat toilets, bucket showers, and constant sweat. Turns out your body WANTS to adapt itself to having a hot shower... starting in 2015 we're going to start HOSTING for the first time, which is very exciting for both of us, but perhaps most exciting for Sen Yai, our adopted Thai stray, because he loves new friends.

I hail originally from Maryland, but spent college and after in Oregon, so right now we're in the middle of a cross-country roadtrip to Portland to go pick up all our stuff. We're visiting some friends and family on parts between, but there are some stretches of land where we don't know anyone, so we're turning to reliable Couchsurfing for new friends and, of course, a flat surface on which to sleep.

I spent a semester studying abroad in Paris and was lucky enough to run around Europe with just a train ticket and a sense of spur-of-the-moment adventure, meeting awesome Couchsurfing friends as I went along. I grew up in London, Vienna, and Washington, DC, so I feel at home in Europe and the United States, but I've seen such a small part of the world that it only makes sense to me to take advantage of this time while I've got it.

PHILOSOPHY

I'm trying to soak up as many experiences as I can so that I have the fullest life from which to write. I'm trying to be that girl at the bar who can strike up a conversation with anyone about anything and learn a thing or two in the process.

Perché sono iscritto su Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Had my introduction to both Belgium and couchsurfing with two lovely Antwerps (or Antwerpians?)! Spent a ginever and bicycle filled weekend with Diana and Stijn in Antwerp and Marcel in Brugge. Got goose and duck recommendations from Skyler in South Dakota on our drive to Portland.

Interessi

Anything and everything under the sun--new books, wild films, crazy cooking, surprising music, good conversation--ferreting out new restaurants, strumming the guitar, brewing cocktails, brewing tea, hosting brunch, painting pictures. I've spent half my life on a horse and the other half in too many hats to name--writer, reader, cook, yogi, translator, climber, painter, gardener, student, teacher, actress, debater, conversationalist, wanderer.

• writing
• books
• cooking
• cocktails
• running
• sauna
• movies
• traveling
• painting
• music
• guitar
• teaching
• languages
• wwoof

Musica, film e libri

I like to think of my favorite authors in terms of sports teams.

The Hometown Heartbreakers: Maxwell, Munro, Atwood
The Unholy Trinity: Kafka, Kundera, Murakami
The Southern Belles: Porter, O'Connor, Faulkner
The Russian(ish) Mob: Nabokov, Bulgakov, Chekhov, Bezmozgis
The Spanish Inquisition: Marquez, Neruda, Borges
The Snarky British Bastards: Christopher Hitchens, Julian Barnes, John Banville
The Toto, We're Not in Kansas Anymores: Neil Gaiman, Karen Russell, Ray Bradbury
The Fanciful French: Voltaire, Maupassant, Grégoire Bouillier
The Bleeding Hearts Club: Roland Barthes, Rainer Maria Rilke
This Ain't No Knitting Club: Virginia Woolf, Djuna Barnes
The Irish Pub Crawlers: Paul Murray, William Trevor, Colum McCann, Samuel Beckett
The Merciless: Mary Gaitskill, Antonya Nelson, Paul Auster

Music: most any genre can find itself prey to my eclectic tastes, meaning that I've always got a favorite artist in common with someone, and love getting recommendations or hearing new things. Right now, I have couches set up in my heart for Sam Cooke and the National.

Movies: I've got a weakness for Clouzot and Korean movies.

Una cosa incredibile che ho fatto

While in Myanmar, Phil and I were invited into the homes of not one but THREE virtual strangers, who despite their lack of wealth, fed us generously and showed us the heart of their communities. If you haven't been to Myanmar, go. Go now, and go often, and go knowing that you can responsibly travel without feeding the purse of the government if you just use your head. Go now, because the country is changing, and I fear for how development will negatively impact the beautiful people of this ravaged country.

visited 14 states (6.22%)Create your own visited map of The World

visited 26 states (52%)Create your own visited map of The United States

Insegna, impara, condividi

I'm quite the cook and love to experiment in the kitchen. I'd be happy to cook dinner for any of my hosts!

I also have several months of organic farming and permaculture experience under my belt, so although I'm no expert, there are a number of things I'm happy to teach you about. Likewise, I'd love to learn more about applying these principles to non-tropical climates, since although Maryland is a sauna, it ain't quite Thailand.

Paesi che ho visitato

Belgium, Cambodia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Laos, Myanmar, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand

Paesi in cui ho vissuto

Austria, France, United Kingdom, United States