CURRENT MISSION

live in the now

ABOUT ME

I just moved back to Canada after living in China for two years and travelling around Asia. I grew up in a small town and ventured out when I was 17 to go on exchange to Mexico. I made the most amazing friends and second family, and learned Spanish. I've lived around British Columbia: Victoria, Whistler (yep I like to snowboard), The Sunshine Coast, and Vancouver. I went to university in Vancouver. I studied Political Science, English Literature and Education. So I can be known to talk about books and politics but I'm certainly not limited to those topics.

Since living in China, I have been lucky enough to be able to travel around SE Asia (and China). Now that I'm back in Canada, Latin American and then Europe are on the top of my travelling list. Oh yes, and it would be great to travel across Canada too, because being away from home has really made me appreciate where I come from.

I have been to North Korea (just to the border) but never been to France. I hope to do it all eventually.
I am not "super" athletic, no marathons for me, but I am active. I love being outside, getting into the mountains, going to bike rides, walking everywhere, and so forth. That's pretty much what we do here in Nakusp! Oh and there are the hot springs too.

I have a wacky? sense of humour (Community and 30 Rock are favourites). I'm much nerdier than I look (Lord of the Rings style) but I can get along with most people. I can be a little shy sometimes and people sometimes mistake that for being cold but as you get to know me cold is one of the last words anyone would use to describe me.
I like to go out at night but not every night, all the time. I won't be keeping you up all night but I most likely won't object to "hitting the town" one night either (that makes me sounds like a granny, but really I'm not).

That's all I've got for now.

PHILOSOPHY

I just keep learning as I go.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I've surfed now, and hosted a couple of times. All my experiences have been positive so far!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Same as what I said before :)

Interests

Bike riding, snowboarding, getting outside, reading, creative writing, attempting to learn art forms of different cultures (trying to get some Peking Opera lessons next), foodie type food, wine, fine ales, and so forth.

• arts
• writing
• books
• literature
• education
• dining
• wine
• walking
• politics
• reading
• traveling
• opera
• cycling
• kayaking
• snowboarding
• baseball
• olympics
• teaching
• medicine
• political science
• science
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

Ack, this could take forever!
Music, generally indie I guess (Neko Case, Vampire Weekend), but then I like classic rock/rock (Rolling Stones, Beatles, The Band, Black Keys etc.), folk (Bob), blues/motown (Otis Redding, Billie Holiday), but lately I've been exploring more hip-hop and even R&B (The Weeknd). If it's interesting I'll give it a listen. I've been to a surprising amount of Metal/Punk shows. I just like music.

Books: The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, Lord of the Rings, Glass Castle, Angela's Ashes, Anne of Green Gables, Emma, Anna Karenina, Barney's Version... currently reading A Game of Thrones.

Movies: I heart Hukabees, Adaptation, The Big Lebowski, Role Models...

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

1. Going to a Mexican Medicine woman in a village in the mountains of Mexico. She beat my body with a bundle leaves, rolled an egg over my body and then spat on my chest. She told me I carry too much stress in my life. Worth it? I think so, 100% great.
2.Watching a baseball game in South Korea... Wow, they have a fun time at the ball game!
3. Being in Vancouver during the Olympics. I actually thought I would hate it, but it was an amazing experience to be in that city at the time. Lovely energy.
4. Kayaking down a river in Laos, getting dumped out in rapids, losing our shoes and walking through villages for the day barefoot.
5. Temples, pyramids, ruins and the Great Wall, of course!

Teach, Learn, Share

What you want me to teach on my days off!?!? Just joking... what would you like to learn? I'll try my best.

Countries I’ve Visited

Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, North Korea, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, United States, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, China, Mexico