CURRENT MISSION Appalachia Adventuring

ABOUT ME

Thirteen years ago, I was unofficially 'couch surfing' in a teepee volunteering in New Orleans after hurricane Katrina when a fellow volunteer told me about this organization. I had my first surfing experience a few days later and have surfed and hosted all around the world ever since. I feel happiest when I am exploring, whether it be a new country or my backyard. I love being around animals. My travel buddy is my jindo dog named Suni. I bought her at a market in South Korea where she was being sold to be food 14 years ago. She cost the equivalent of 15 US dollars and was sold to me with a bag of vegetables. Years later she is still my best friend and traveling companion! She has plenty of references below too!

We moved to Key West, Florida 6 months ago and I am enjoying the tropical weather, snorkeling, and learning to sail. I work with adults with disabilites and share a home in the beautiful historic district of town with my brother and my nieces and nephew. I currently do not have space to host but would be happy to meet up and share this place and all the fun activities it has to offer to anyone traveling through!

PHILOSOPHY

To be grateful for the life I have and the people I have in it. To be giving, present, optimistic and open minded. To Never say I 'wish' I could do something. To always Do it! To be the changes I want to see, and have the adventures I dream about having.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

surfing,hosting, community groups

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Surfing and hosting throughout the US, South America and Asia... great experiences all around.

Interests

• animals
• chickens
• arts
• writing
• books
• chocolate
• meditation
• reading
• painting
• drawing
• hiking
• snorkeling
• languages
• volunteering
• mythology
• spirituality
• markets
• solitude
• vegetarian food
• rollerblading
• animal rights
• caves
• audio books
• star gazing
• disability rights
• art therapy
• mud
• ayahuasca
• connection
• hot springs
• natural building
• naps
• ancient wisdom
• butterflies
• ecstatic dance
• creative writing
• montessori
• existentialism
• plant medicine
• sea turtles
• breathwork
• swimming in rivers
• meaningful conversations
• indigenous cultures
• animal rescue
• mosaics
• pachamama
• rehabilitating animals

Music, Movies, and Books

I enjoy discovering new music, movies, and books wherever I go and what I listen to, watch and read is always changing. Whenever I shop at a thrift store I buy a random tape or cd just to be surprised and when I travel to a new place I enjoy checking out the local art and music scene.
Lately it's a lot of folk music: Rising Appalachia,The Be Good Tanyas, and Andrew Bird. I also love all traditions of chant music from Gregorian to Sanskrit. Music that uplifts and transcends is my favorite.
I enjoy reading magical realism like ‘The House of Spirits’ by Isabelle Allende or ‘Like Water for chocolate’.
One of my favorite things is to be read too by friends but audio books are fantastic too. One of my recent favorites is “ The Help".
I listen to podcasts like Invisibilia and the Moth.
A few spiritual books also have a permanent place by my bedside like Ekchart Tolle’s ‘Power of Now’ and ‘A New Earth’.
I like creative films like Amelie and documentaries that make me think. I’ll admit I also love sappy romance movies and ridiculous funny movies that I can laugh through like Wanderlust and Along came Polly.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Watching over a hundred teeny tiny baby turtles hatching and making their way to the sea!

Teach, Learn, Share

I can share kayaks, paddle boards, and snorkel gear and we an go on an aquatic adventure!I can share bikes and guide you through my favorite trails. My pets are waiting for you to snuggle with and my art supplies are available to get creative and paint and draw. I can share stories about my transformative experiences with plant medicine like Ayahuascha and San Pedro in South America. I can help you plan your travels through South America and maybe you can help me plan mine somewhere you have been..... I'd like to learn anything that you have to share. A few things on this years list are: skiing, snow shoeing, sailing, using power tools, embroidering, and to make pots on a wheel that aren't lopsided.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Ecuador, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Germany, Italy, South Korea, United States

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