I love to laugh, explore, and talk with others. I enjoy experiencing and learning new things, and my personal goal is to continuously learn new skills and gain knowledge about the world and its people.

I grew up in a very small town (population of 1,200) in Iowa, and ever since I studied abroad in Florence, Italy a few years ago, I have had constant urge to travel and expand my cultural knowledge.

Professionally, I am a Registered Dietitian getting my Masters degree in Nutrition & Dietetics. My ultimate goal is to help others lead longer, healthier, and happier lives through food.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I think that the best part of traveling is fully immersing yourself in a new culture. That includes eating the food, listening to the music, engaging in the customs, and speaking the language (if possible) of the locals. This is all possible through Couchsurfing. Couchsurfing enables me to not just see how the locals live but experience their lifestyle as if it were my own. Additionally, I can also teach others about my own culture and way of life.

I also believe that we can learn something new from everyone we meet. Couchsurfing allows people to learn skills and gain knowledge that they may not learn in any other environment, and it helps decrease cultural misunderstandings which is both powerful and positive.

Interests

My four major passions are people, food, nutrition, and traveling. I am passionate about helping others lead better lives whether it is by offering emotional support, sharing motivational words, or providing the skills and resources someone needs to succeed. I am also passionate about food, particularly fresh, nutritious food (although I love dessert too!), and I want to combine my food and nutrition passions with my love for people, as food is something that connects us all. Delicious and nutritious food has a dual purpose: it can bring people together and make them feel better physically at the same time. I also love to travel, and I believe that we learn the most about ourselves when we travel. I enjoy seeing new places, meeting new people, and getting fully immersed in cultures different from my own.

• culture
• photography
• dancing
• dining
• cooking
• baking
• running
• traveling
• music
• hiking
• sports
• rock climbing
• history
• science
• nature
• being active

Music, Movies, and Books

Music - Pop, Country, Alternative, Indie, House, pretty much anything!
Movies - Something that makes me laugh or educates me on a new topic
Books - Nonfiction, Romance, Inspirational Stories

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Went night sledding down a mountain in the Swiss Alps.

Teach, Learn, Share

TEACH: cooking, baking, basketball, running, English, nutrition facts, food science facts, some history, travel knowledge, technology, food photography
LEARN: any foreign language, cooking, cultural information, stories about yourself
SHARE: whatever stories and information I can!

What I Can Share with Hosts

An abundance of food puns, happiness, knowledge, my skills, good conversation, and a friendly smile :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland

Countries I’ve Lived In

Italy, United States