CURRENT MISSION

Build my profile and community connections in Eugene, OR

ABOUT ME

Hey everyone, here's a bit about me...

I grew up in Salem, OR and got bitten by the travel bug at an early age.
In high school I spent my junior year studying abroad in Saumur, France from 2004-2005 with Rotary International. It was among both the most difficult and most rewarding experiences of my life, and I still remain in contact with my host families from that year.

During college I studied abroad in Dakar, Senegal and after graduating interned in Tunis, Tunisia and Rabat, Morocco with AMIDEAST in 2011.
These experiences opened me up to many new perspectives from cultures very different from my own, allowing me to expanded my understanding of other people and of myself in the process. It also developed my passion for expanding and improving educational opportunities for students, especially girls, in developing countries.

I completed my B.A. in International Studies with concentrations in French, African Studies, and Arts Management from the University of Oregon in 2010.

I am currently the Faculty Services Coordinator for the American English Institute at the University of Oregon. In this position I provide administrative and educational technology support to 100+ faculty and staff in addition to supervising a team of 15 international student assistants.

When I am not busy with work, I coach and choreograph a high school colorguard team. I am also a huge fan of themed dinner parties!

PHILOSOPHY

"Que sera, sera; whatever will be will be. The future's not ours to see, que sera sera"

"Everything is meant to happen, and even though we may not understand the purpose of something in the moment, there is a reason for everything."

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I love the concept of "couchsurfers", and am really looking forward to meeting new folks as they travel through the Willamette Valley. It is my hope to "pay it forward" and meet up with other travelers until I can get out there again.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

May 2011; Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

I traveled to Vancouver for the 2011 NAFSA Conference for international education, and was lucky enough to stay with a fellow conference attendee. It was so awesome to stay with a local and explore the streets together after networking all day with professionals. I had a great time and would love to go visit her again in the future.

December 2013; Key Largo, Florida
We took a family vacation here in December, and when our hotel reservations fell through (for the entire week), we decided to make the best of the situation and travel throughout the state. I met up with some fellow couch surfers in Key Largo, and had a wonderful evening with a fantastic homemade dinner. Wished I could have stayed longer and traveled around with them!

Interests

My hobbies include cooking, biking, exploring new cities, dancing (modern, jazz, tribal bellydance), meeting new people, and having themed dinner parties.

• arts
• culture
• dancing
• education
• cooking
• coach
• partying
• technology
• traveling
• music
• jazz
• piano
• cycling
• teaching

Music, Movies, and Books

Favorite movies include: Beauty and the Beast, Emperor's New Groove, Zoolander, Chicago, Labyrinth, Dark Crystal

TV Shows: Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations, So You Think You Can Dance?, Ru Paul's Drag Race, Monsters Inside Me, MythBusters

Favorite music: Im really into almost everything, and being a dance instructor and choreography I love music with a strong beat

Favorite Books: Einstein's Dreams, Borderliners, A Girl Named Disaster

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Visited a Moroccan family's villa in the medievil city of Fez twenty years after they had moved out...seeing the look on the mother's face when she walked in the courtyard where so many of her family memories had taken place was a once in a lifetime experience.

Teach, Learn, Share

Cooking, introductory piano, French conversational skills, tips for solo women travelers, West African culture, West African music and Dance, North African culture

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Canada, Germany, Italy, Jamaica, Spain, Switzerland, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, Italy, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, United States

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