I am friendly and open-minded, good-humored, "down-to-earth," adaptable, an optimist and full of youthful energy. I consider myself an extroverted introvert. I love getting to know new people on a regular basis; for this reason and also because of my strong sense of adventure and curiosity- my desire to explore and understand the unknown through experience-travel is something I long for more often than anything else. I don’t believe that there exists many real limits. I have a huge range of other hobbies as well, playing sports (especially soccer), running, dancing, singing, writing, watching movies, baking, NATURE and outdoorsy activities like hiking, camping, and swimming. I've surfed and snow-boarded, taken a lesson in hang-gliding, zip-lined and para-sailed...I'd like to try everything at least once! I listen to every genre of music...I am kind of a music freak. I care a lot about being healthy and fit, and I became vegetarian somewhat recently for that reason though I have nothing against carnivores (I was one for 26 years). I am a foody for sure. I don't like to do too much of the same thing and I try to prevent my life from becoming too stagnant. I look forward to challenges and mostly look at change as a good thing, and I believe in building positive relationships with people whether they are in my life for a day or the rest of my life.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I love to travel and meet new people, and this is the most affordable way to have a cultural exchange. Furthermore, I prefer to get to know a place through locals living there rather than as a typical tourist for the most authentic but unique experience!

Interests

So many (summarized in the "About me"section)

• writing
• dancing
• beer
• coffee
• baking
• vegetarian
• running
• movies
• traveling
• music
• hiking
• camping
• sports
• baseball
• basketball
• soccer
• swimming
• softball

Music, Movies, and Books

So many...

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Not easy to answer because many things I’ve done have, from my perspective, been amazing because they are less conventional or personaly difficult. I am super open, curious, and adventurous, and there is such an unlimited variety of experiences I’d like to have in my life.

I guess the biggest thing has been overcoming many obstacles to live in Italy, the country I feel a strong connection to, even while it has been a very complex process to do alone. It would have been so easy to give up, to loose patience, and yet I’ve been gradually building a life for myself, a sense of community, forcing vulnerability so I could learn the language, exploring solo most of the time and developing my own point of view about the life/culture here by becoming a local, and maintaining my “strong female” sense of independence.

Teach, Learn, Share

**I have hosted travelers many times in the past, when I was living regularly in Oregon in an apartment with my friend who had a couchsurfing profile (I didn’t at the time). She and another friend introduced me to couchsurfing, and it has significantly changed and improved my life! In fact, it is why I am living in a beautiful, less touristic, region in Italy I had previously never heard of!

What I Can Share with Hosts

At the least, friendship of course, a place to stay if ever you visit me and I have a living space to share, a tour of Ancona or Salem (depending on which city/country I’m living in at the time) and an exchange of stories! I also like cooking for people when there’s time!

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Andorra, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, England, France, Italy, Norway, Romania, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey

Countries I’ve Lived In

England, Italy, United States