CURRENT MISSION

Cultural immersion until fluent in Spanish so I may be able to help more families with children with autism

ABOUT ME

I am a Do-It-Yourselfer, LOVE to cook, teach Qigong (it's like Tai Chi) as a side gig, practice yoga daily, have respect for all religions, wish our country had more than two political parties (I subscribe to neither), used to rehabilitate injured wild animals and train dogs, have built houses with my bare hands, don't know how to change the oil in my car, daughter of a fighter-pilot and therefore an adrenaline junkie, perpetual learner, love urban spaces and windy country roads, draft architecture and paint abstract and build pottery in my spare time but don't consider myself an artist. I'm currently saving to go to Spain to become fluent in Spanish so I can help more low-income families in San Diego who have children with autism.

PHILOSOPHY

God is Love.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I can be as hands-on or hands-off as you prefer. I'm happy to make dinner or read a book to kids, or just as happy to keep quiet to myself in the other room.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've couch-surfed on friends' friend's couches, but never through cs.org. I'm excited!

Interests

Studying (I'm a bit of a nerd), building, crafting, art, nutrition, food, juicing, raw, cooking, baking, gluten-free, gastronomy, home brewing, wine, viticulture, craft beer, photography, painting, pottery, glass fusing, sculpture, gardening, farming, hydroponics, raising chickens, surfing, rock climbing, hiking, camping, fishing, archery, waterfalls, trail running, kayaking, sailing, snowboarding, spirituality, qigong, yoga, meditation, ancient medicine, goals, life coaching, autism, child development, art therapy, piano, dubstep, classical music, drum circles, hula hoop dancing, spinning poi, fire dancing, massage, ecstatic dance, poetry, interior design, architecture...

• animals
• dogs
• chickens
• arts
• books
• poetry
• architecture
• design
• interior design
• photography
• dancing
• dining
• cooking
• wine
• beer
• baking
• yoga
• running
• meditation
• partying
• gardening
• pottery
• painting
• music
• classical music
• piano
• fishing
• hiking
• kayaking
• camping
• surfing
• sailing
• snowboarding
• trail running
• rock climbing
• archery
• medicine
• religion
• cultural immersion

Music, Movies, and Books

Anything educational. Love diverse music (everything except death metal)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I was a project manager to completely gut and renovate a condemned house into a "showcase home" to be used as a halfway house for women. I volunteered nearly 60 hours a week for over five months to make it happen, but it remains today in Alexandria, Virginia, giving 9 women at a time the chance to start over. Oh, and I've witnessed children with autism recover (which is pretty awesome, yet highly controversial).

Teach, Learn, Share

I teach qigong (like tai chi) and cooking/nutrition classes, as well as permaculture/gardening/farming skills. I can landscape a whole yard beautifully with edible vegetables, and am happy to share how!

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Ecuador, France, Mexico, Puerto Rico, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States