Hi there, I'm an affectionate and outgoing American who comes from a Polish mother and a scientist father who thought himself a citizen of the world. With that background exposing me to an international context at a very young age, I have developed a keen curiosity and openness for difference and consequently have been lucky enough to live in various gorgeous parts of our planet - from Northern Ireland and Guatemala to Sweden, Italy and Kenya. As I say in the next section, one of my favorite things in all of life is to meet people from other countries and cultures. I love learning about people, their lives and experiences. I love sharing the simple things like food, drink, music, stories, etc.

I have worked primarily as a facilitator and consultant in the fields of peace building and conflict resolution, environmental sustainability, and multi-stakeholder engagement.

At the moment my partner and I are embarking on a joint venture to offer digital media productions, web and design (and facilitation too if they want!) to non-profits and people doing amazing work in the world that might not otherwise afford it. It's called Northern Flicker and will hopefully help us to travel the world a bit together, meet amazing people, and help as much as we can as we go. As long as the exchange is sustainable for us (room/board/travel) we are open to donating our services! We also want to make a documentary about the various facets that make Peace possible (inner and outer) along the way. It should be a great adventure!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

It's long overdue my joining Couchsurfing. I absolutely love traveling and meeting people from diverse countries and cultures. It's one of my favorite things. I love sharing perspectives on life, getting and sharing a local experience, and building our common humanity with every encounter.

I imagine the typical couch surfer is my type of person. Open, adventurous, curious, kind, welcoming, sincere, fun and so forth. I have had people spontaneously take me in and completely make my experience of a place, I have also taken people in with the intention to offer warmth and friendship and a positive experience. We are so much more alike than different aren't we?

I'm reminded of a memory from the mid 2000's. I was on a bus traveling home from the airport when I heard my neighbors speaking in a foreign language I didn't recognize. I said hi and we talked for the remainder of the ride. I watched them see snow fall for the first time (they were from Iran, just arriving to the USA). And I just loved being the person there to show them interest about their lives, to tell them they are welcome, and answer any of their questions. When my mom picked me up, I said to her "I wonder if there are any jobs out there where you can be a professional welcomer?" I think joining Courchsurfing offers me that opportunity.

Interests

People, their life experiences and stories
Music - especially singing & writing songs
Yoga & meditation
Volleyball
Hiking and being immersed in gorgeous natural landscapes
Spontaneous dance parties
Good food, good drink, good company (who isn't interested in that?)
Current events, world politics and culture
Massage and various healing modalities
Psychology and personal development
Sharing inspiration & information - via TED talks or something similar
Sustainable and alternative living
Community building, what are the systems and initiatives creating peaceful communities, how is connection being fostered?
Social justice, especially feminism and masculinities

...to name a few!

• culture
• writing
• singing
• design
• documentaries
• dancing
• womens rights
• dining
• yoga
• meditation
• partying
• drinking
• politics
• traveling
• socializing
• music
• guitar
• piano
• hiking
• volleyball
• communications
• psychology
• science

Music, Movies, and Books

Most recently played on Spotify were First Aid Kit, Imogen Heap, Alt J, Jai Uttal (Kirtan music), Vienna Teng, Sia, and Oh Wonder. Last live concert was Noah Gundersen. I will always love quirky lady singers like Regina Spektor, Joni Mitchell, Bjork and Kate Bush. Jazz greats like Ella Fitzgerald, and pretty much any standard. In 5th grade I listened to one Beatles tape for a road trip spanning the entire US - on repeat :) I love folk duos like the Civil Wars. Great pop music like Lady Gaga or Michael Jackson is always a treat. ....There is not much I don't like. I suppose I'm not that into metal or hard rock, emo or hard techno/house.

I'm trying to finish the book Let Your Life Speak by Parker Palmer. I love anything he writes. Admittedly I read a lot of articles and it eats up a lot of time where I could read novels. Please recommend one!

I grew up loving the movies Amelie and Moulin Rouge.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I lived and taught in a rural Maasai village in Kenya, looking at Mt. Kilimanjaro and giraffes and zebras every day. I've never seen so many stars.

Teach, Learn, Share

Voice, guitar, piano
Yummy eats and drinks
Language lessons

What I Can Share with Hosts

Songs
Facilitation and Strategic planning techniques
If my boyfriend Nathan is with me, then we can play with Acro-yoga moves!

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, England, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia

Countries I’ve Lived In

Guatemala, Italy, Kenya, Northern Ireland, Sweden, United States