CURRENT MISSION

Live life well and be the true version of myself

ABOUT ME

I'm an American who has lived in four countries (U.S., South Africa, Ecuador, China) and traveled in many more. I can say 'thank you' in more than ten languages. I love exploring new places, meeting new people and sharing what I've learned in my travels with others.

In China, I've advised regional governments on promoting industry and trade before starting to teach. Before moving here I had careers in investor relations and government finance in the U.S.

I've put together a file of common questions and answers about life in Beijing. Enjoy! http://goo.gl/8DcJu.

PHILOSOPHY

Live a life that inspires you.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I enjoy meeting visitors to Beijing and helping them learn about this fabulous historic and rapidly modernizing city.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've had plenty of experience couchsurfing with friends of friends (the old-fashioned way - not through this website) around the world and hosting friends of friends as well. It's allowed me to meet some amazing people and learn about different cultures, different cities, in ways I couldn't have otherwise.

Interests

Yoga, tea and tea culture, hiking, cooking, vegetarian food, travel, cultures, dragonboating, bicycling, motorcycles, fiction and nonfiction reading, sustainability

• culture
• dining
• cooking
• recipes
• vegetarian
• yoga
• meditation
• motorcycles
• reading
• traveling
• billiards
• hiking
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

Many of each!

Classic movie loves:
Persepolis, Slumdog Millionaire, Cinema Paradiso, Brazil, The Color Purple

Currently reading: The collected works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

I often listen to: classical, jazz, percussion and acoustic groups, salsa and merengue, musicians from many corners of the earth

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Quitting my job and apartment in New York and moving to China!

I've also mountain biked in the Andes, hiked in bamboo forests in Thailand, swam in a palace pool in Marrakech and hiked Mount Washington in February.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can recommend great tea vendors in southwest Beijing's Maliandao, the traditional tea markets. I've put together a helpful information package for foreigners who have moved to Beijing. Let me know if you'd like it.

I love to cook, to share recipes and learn how to prepare dishes from different cuisines around the world.

I've practiced yoga since 1991 and have a regular meditation practice. Still so much to learn.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, China, Cuba, Ecuador, France, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand

Countries I’ve Lived In

China, Ecuador, South Africa, United States