I was born and raised in Lawrence, Kansas, where I lived for 23 years until coming to England for a master's degree. Following another year back in the United States, I took a job opportunity in Amsterdam where I'm currently working at a global health non-profit. Outside of global health and the pharmaceutical sciences, I love to learn about just about anything and enjoy reading, writing, photography, and singing.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

While I was in England, I hosted several Couchsurfers from all across Europe, and I loved every moment of it. Being able to engage with a community that's dedicated to meeting people you likely never would have met otherwise has been an incredible experience that I've been fortunate to have had.

Interests

• writing
• photography
• cooking
• baking
• movies
• traveling
• music

Music, Movies, and Books

A few of my favorite bands are Ben Folds, The Beatles, Billy Joel, The Civil Wars, Andrew Bird, and The Head and the Heart.

Love ALL kinds of movies with a soft spot for anything made by Quentin Tarantino, horror, and Indie films.

As for books, I'm a sucker for books by Stephen King, Chuck Palahniuk, Michael Crichton, and a (far-too-late) fan of Gabriel García Márquez.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Not only have I joined the relatively small subset of people who have ridden on a camel in the Sahara desert, I've joined the even smaller subset of people who have been *bucked* by a camel in the Sahara desert.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach you a bit about science, writing, baking, and photography. I can also share what I've learned about making this world a little kinder and fairer by making sure the most vulnerable populations are given the resources they need to live. And, of course, if I can return the favor of hosting, I would love to, should you ever be coming through my area!

What I Can Share with Hosts

Good conversation, a listening ear, gripping tales about growing up in the middle of the United States, someone to cook with, a bottle of wine, and maybe a new headshot/profile picture?

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, England, France, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Scotland, Spain, Sweden

Countries I’ve Lived In

England, Netherlands, United States