CURRENT MISSION

I want to meet new people and have more adventures!

ABOUT ME

I'm a middle school ESL teacher who loves to travel and meet new people. My husband and I are newlyweds and we are excited to be able to host after experiencing the hospitality of so many around the world! I love experiencing other cultures and trying new things. I grew up in Alabama and I love most things about the South. I'm a news junkie, and love trying new food, dancing, and attempting to learn new languages. I've worked with refugees for many years, and I'm really passionate about progressive causes and education. I love my job because I have students from all over the world, but I also love having summers off because then I have time to travel. So far I've visited 4 other countries- Ethiopia, Brazil, Egypt, and Ireland- and hope to see more!

PHILOSOPHY

I want to make a positive difference wherever I go. I think traveling is great because it helps bring people from all over the world together and helps us understand each other better.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I would love to host travelers, whether at my place or just showing you around town. If you're just passing through I'd love to give you suggestions for cool things to do in Birmingham, Mobile, and the Southeast in general.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've only hosted 2 Couchsurfers, but my husband has couch surfed all over the world, and we'd like to return the favor!

Interests

Trying new foods, dancing, music, diy, languages, hiking, reading, biking, history, progressive politics, spirituality, and sustainability.

• horses
• culture
• diy
• dancing
• causes
• education
• dining
• cheese
• coffee
• walking
• politics
• news
• reading
• traveling
• cars
• music
• cycling
• hiking
• teaching
• history
• languages
• lakes
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

I like pop and some country, love 90's R & B, and anything that's danceable. My favorite books are historical novels and ones about people's lives in other cultures. I'm currently reading "Zealot" by Reza Aslan, and so far it's really interesting! My favorite movies are about dystopian futures, but I love a good romcom too. On TV, I love Game of Thrones, House of Cards, Turn, and Jane the Virgin. My new favorite is Grace and Frankie!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I spent a few months in Ethiopia, and my favorite place there was Wondo Ganet, a small village in central Ethiopia south of Addis Ababa. It has beautiful green mountains, idyllic fields with thatched roof huts, hot springs, lots of donkeys and goats, monkeys, and mango trees everywhere. Our hosts showed us around and took us hiking to see incredible views of lakes and green hills as far as we could see. At night the stars looked like you could reach out and touch them because there weren't many lights. Few people in town had cars so the "taxis" were horses and buggies! The people we met were so friendly, and they made the best coffee I've ever had. I'd love to go back someday!

Teach, Learn, Share

I'd love to meet you and hear about your life and travels!

What I Can Share with Hosts

We live in a vintage cottage-style apartment in a cute historic area just outside of Birmingham called Homewood. We're right next to a park and walking distance to several bars and restaurants, and within 5 minutes of other major entertainment areas. Our apartment is a one bed room/one bath, so guests sleep in the living room, but we would try to give you as much privacy as possible. For guests we have a couch and an air mattress. We are both history buffs and very knowledgeable about Southern history, so we could teach you about the history and culture of the South, how to make classic Southern dishes like gumbo, cheese grits, and sweet tea, and generally help you have a great experience in Birmingham! We also have a little dog who's a terrier mix who sleeps in our room, so hopefully you're ok with dogs!

Countries I’ve Visited

Egypt, Ethiopia, Ireland, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Ethiopia, United States