CURRENT MISSION

To keep learning, no matter where I go.

ABOUT ME

I was raised on a cattle ranch in Elko, Nevada where I learned to ride the range, operate heavy machinery, and repair anything from small motors to tractors. Northern Nevada is pretty harsh, with winters around -20 degrees F and summers in the 100's, but it is a beautiful place if you know where to look.

I studied at the University of Nevada, Reno, and worked as a public relations officer for the university as well as for non-profits in the Reno area. After graduating, I realized that my true passion is working with my hands and decided to return to the ranch to help brand cattle and put up hay for the winter. Now that the work is winding down, I plan on taking some personal time to travel in Europe. In the fall of 2013 I will be enrolled in a maritime engineering program in Seattle to learn about ship engines and other systems.

PHILOSOPHY

"Not all those who wander are lost."

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

There's always a couch open if anyone is passing through Nevada.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Excited to be using Couchsurfing for the first time.

Interests

I love listening to a good story, or sharing stories with others. I am always interested in learning skills, talents, or lessons from each place I visit.

• clubbing
• traveling
• soccer
• engineering

Music, Movies, and Books

A Fine Balance, The Grapes of Wrath, My Heart is an Idiot, One Hundred Years of Solitude, Into Thin Air, The Book Thief, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Moulin Rouge, The Departed, The Fountain, The Red Violin, Brasil, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Russell, Paul Simon, Franz Ferdinand, The Clash, Edith Piaf.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

It's been a wild ride. Gale force winds on the Cliffs of Moher. Becoming an honorary Derry City Football Club member. Carnival in Barcelona and Sitges, St. Patrick's Day in Dublin. And the countless people that have made these events even more memorable.

Teach, Learn, Share

I have a lot of informal training in plumbing, electrical work and automotive repair so I'd be glad to lend a hand when needed. I'm not too familiar with how things are engineered outside of the US, but that can be a learning experience. I've been performing manual labor my entire life, so if chores need done it's not a problem at all.

Since I'm enrolling in a marine engineering program, I would love to try and gain some experience in the engine room of a ship, possibly doing a short internship while I'm abroad. Given my background in the agricultural sector, it would also be great if I could see how farming/ranching is done abroad, and it would be a pleasure to help out in whatever way I can.

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Nicaragua, Spain

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States