CURRENT MISSION

I'm always on a mission to learn more about the world and myself and how I interact with that world, bigger goal being to make the world better for everyone and everything. Side mission: to live in California without going broke.

ABOUT ME

I'm a pretty simple person, really. I love life in all its crazy beauty and complexity and try to move through it with a mix of child-like wonder, an open mind and an even more open heart.

I grew up in rural Michigan and love Michigan a lot, though I'm not a huge fan of cold weather which is maybe why I don't live there anymore. BUT, the Great Lakes are like nothing else and everyone should see them, be inspired by them, jump in them! I've spent a lot of time in Mexico, too, and it became like a home to me, too.

PHILOSOPHY

I believe there is goodness in just about everything and that we need to forgive ourselves more because we're human and also we need to live more because we're human and we've been given this awesome opportunity to live in this beautiful, beautiful world :D

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I've stayed with wonderful, truly amazing people all over the US, Mexico, Central America, and have had opportunities to host, as well. CS has impacted my life in a very positive way since I joined over 10 years ago and I try to give that back when I stay with people or host them.

** Just as a note, as I have been using CS for well over 10 years, basically since it started, I haven't done any of the verification steps because when CS first started it was totally free and that's what I had gotten used to. **

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

So far, so good. I've been hosted in several different countries, met with folks, sometimes for days, sometimes last minute or even just for a few hours, and the experiences have been great. I've also hosted and met some of the sweetest people. Sometimes I take breaks because of work, but I know it's a great community.

Interests

I like things related to nature, the environment and being a better human to the natural world, politics and activism, history, languages, growing food, music, dancing, reading and writing, hearing people's stories

• arts
• writing
• literature
• poetry
• photography
• beauty
• dancing
• cooking
• chocolate
• wine
• cheese
• beer
• yoga
• gardening
• politics
• painting
• music
• hiking
• agriculture
• communications
• history
• languages
• lakes

Music, Movies, and Books

I love music in every genre, but especially music that has heart and soul in it or at the very least inspires dancing (examples of music I like: folk music from the Mitten, music from the eighties and nineties, cumbia, salsa, reggae, hip hop, old rock and roll, electronic music)

Books: I don't read enough anymore but some of my favorite authors have been Eduardo Galeano, Wendell Berry, Margaret Atwood

Movies: I've watched a lot of movies and I love them, but can't remember all my favorites.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

So many amazing things have happened around me and do every single day

Teach, Learn, Share

I love learning and teaching. I'm interested in and currently trying to learn lots of things like: yoga, jewelry making, painting, playing the keyboard, medicinal plants, my family history, organic gardening and farming, Portuguese.

I know some Spanish and my English language skills are solid, so I never mind sharing language tips. I've been teaching ESL online for 2 years, so I've learned a bit about grammar along the way. Can teach a bit about community organizing, effective/persuasive language, and door-to-door canvassing skills, which surprisingly come in VERY handy when one is traveling.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I love to cook and hear stories and I will most likely show up with a bottle of wine, unless instructed otherwise :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, Guatemala, Italy, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, Spain

Countries I’ve Lived In

Argentina, Canada, Mexico, United States

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