CURRENT MISSION

Get as many stamps in my passport as possible!

ABOUT ME

I am currently a student who is on an urban studies based Study Abroad Program. I've spent the last few months trekking around New Orleans, Louisiana, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Cape Town, South Africa, and now Hanoi, Vietnam to better understand the process of urbanization! When I'm not traveling, I study at the College of Wooster, which is a tiny little liberal arts school in rural Ohio. At Wooster I am an Anthropology and Environmental Studies major and use my free time to garden, cook, run, and volunteer at a women's shelter in town. As much as I love the sleepy feel of a rural town, I love the doors that being able to travel opens up for someone. These past few summers I have traveled back to my hometown, Washington D.C., to intern, spend time with my family, and earn money to afford the trip I am currently on!

I love to meet new people, and consider myself to be a really friendly, easygoing, and engaging personality. I think that there is nothing better than being able to sit down with someone who you have never met, learn about each other, and draw an intricate web of connections you both have that you never knew existed!

PHILOSOPHY

I know its a bit cliche to quote Jack Kerouac, but one of my favorite quotes from On The Road is:
"€œWhat is that feeling when you're driving away from people and they recede on the plain till you see their specks dispersing? - it's the too-huge world vaulting us, and it's good-bye. But we lean forward to the next crazy venture beneath the skies."

I keep reminding myself to live in the present and take a step back, but sometimes you just have to throw caution to the wind and see what happens.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Since I'm a student I think I would probably couchsurf instead of host! If I were to be hosted though I can whip up a great batch of cupcakes, help out with some general housekeeping chores, and be a respectful guest!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've never couchsurfed before but decided to check it out based on a recommendation by a friend who did it in Europe! I'm really excited to meet new people and form new friendships, learn a bit about the places I find myself in from locals, and share some experiences that I have had. I think this is an amazing concept and I'm excited to meet some people who are hospitable enough to open their homes.

Interests

I love love love the outdoors. I know that sounds super cliche, but nothing makes me feel better than being able to spend some time hiking, biking, gardening, etc. I am currently on a multi-city study abroad program and have also discovered how much I love meeting new people. I've been staying in homestays during my treks through Sao Paulo, Brazil, Cape Town, South Africa, and Hanoi, Vietnam, and have learned a ton about the different cuisines and cultures of everyone I have lived with. I also thrive on the uncomfortable so I can entertain anyone with some embarrassing childhood (and pretty recent) stories. I also am too cheap to verify myself because I'm slowly spending all of my money traveling...

• arts
• cooking
• recipes
• running
• gardening
• traveling
• drawing
• stamps
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• hiking
• rock climbing
• anthropology
• environmental studies
• study abroad
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

Books: I love to read, and am a huge fan of Paulo Coleho, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Barbara Kingsolver, and Sylvia Plath.

Music: I have quite an eclectic music taste. Country really isn't my thing, but I love indie rock, alternative music, hip hop, rap, embarrassing pop, etc.

Movies: Comedy, Romantic Comedy, Dramas, and Thrillers are some of my favorites! I just watched The East on a plane flight and cannot stop thinking about it.

Television Shows: I love Breaking Bad, Homeland, Scandal, The Mindy Project, Bob's Burgers, Sherlock, and a million more that I can't think of!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

This may be quite tame for some people, but a few weeks ago myself and a few friends climbed Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa. It was a pretty cold day and the hike was harder than I expected, but after a grueling two hours we saw clouds poking through the top of the gorge, pulled through, and hiked our way to the top. I definitely was tired the whole time climbing, but seeing these massive clouds spilling over a Natural Wonder of The World made me just feel so happy to be alive.

Teach, Learn, Share

I have a few great cupcake recipes that I am more than willing to give, learn, share some great friendships through couchsurfing, and learn how to live and enjoy the present a bit more.

Countries I’ve Visited

Cambodia, Ecuador, Italy, Thailand

Countries I’ve Lived In

Brazil, South Africa, Viet Nam