Hey! I'm usually working as a teacher but am taking time off to travel around SE Asia. In December, I finished teaching English in Daegu, South Korea. During my stay there I was able to travel all around the country. I realized how much I love travelling . Seeing and trying new things is exciting yet calming at the same time. I grew up exploring Minnesota and all over the US and can't wait to see more of Asia. Some favorite places I have been are the Grand Canyon, NYC, Fern Canyon, Hawaii, and Jeju Island.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I have always wanted to try Couchsurfing! The chance to live with locals seems like an authentic way to see a new place. But ultimately, making connections with people is my motivating force. I mean that not only for travelling but for life. Realizing you have things in common with everyone is beautiful, affirming and learning something new from others is what life is all about. There are teachers all around us.

Interests

I have a variety of interests and love trying new things. I really enjoy reading, writing and watching movies- all things stories. I love listening to music, seeing shows and and am learning how to play the violin. I enjoy drawing, painting and other crafty things. Being outdoors is another favorite. I love taking walks/hikes, sightseeing, and camping. Games, sports and activities of almost any kind- cycling, soccer, rugby, swimming, rock climbing, yoga and dodgeball are a few of my favorites. I like science and nature in general and have always had a soft spot for animals too. Oh and tasty food and beer.

• animals
• pets
• writing
• dining
• cooking
• beer
• yoga
• movies
• reading
• traveling
• painting
• drawing
• music
• violin
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• hiking
• backpacking
• canoeing
• camping
• sports
• rock climbing
• soccer
• rugby
• swimming
• teaching
• science
• sightseeing
• lakes

Music, Movies, and Books

This is always a hard question to answer because I have so many favorites.

Some favorite books are: The Hours, Amy Hempel's Shorts, Wherever You Go, There You Are, Slaughterhouse-Five, Bless Me Ultima, Fight Club, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Watchmen, Demian, etc... lately I've been reading a lot of Murakami.

My music tastes are somewhat random. I like classical, folk, jazz, pop, dance, alternative mostly anything but a few of my favorite artists lately are Chet Faker, Glass Animal, Alt-j, Odesza, M83, and LCD Soundsystem. Honestly, I listen to podcasts and the news a lot.

Movies would also be a very long list! I enjoy all genres from horror to kid's/family. A few favorites are: Pride and Prejudice, Oldboy, The Dark Knight, Harold and Maude, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Amelie, Natural Born Killers, Inside Out, anything Wes Anderson, Miyazaki or Charlie Kaufman

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

One amazing thing I did was canoeing for 11 hours into Canada in the middle of the Boundary Waters with five 13-year-old girls. What I'll never forget about that week was the serenity of the pristine forest and lakes, the striking sunsets, the hard work and the remarkable transformation of myself and of all the girls- who had never really been out of the city let alone canoeing or backpacking!

What I Can Share with Hosts

I am willing to help out with anything I can. I can clean or help cook. I am pretty good at organizing things. Taking care of pets or even kids would be fun. I can help with anything I listed in my interests section like yoga, writing, games, etc. Of course, I can help anyone with their English! I have been teaching for about 4 years- all ages too.

Countries I’ve Visited

Cambodia, Canada, Cayman Islands, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Mexico, New Zealand, South Korea, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

South Korea, United States