ABOUT ME

I have a passion for words and stories that resonate in clear, fresh and beautiful ways. This love took root in the fertile soil of a Carnegie Library in my hometown and then blossomed while I pursued a degree in journalism. I graduated in 2005 and work as a freelance journalist based in Columbia, Mo. When I'm not writing or editing or dabbling in photography, I enjoy reading books and playing sports and watching movies. And to answer the question everyone wonders about: yes, I do play basketball; it's my favorite sport.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I am presently taking my first trip around Europe as a way to celebrate my 30th birthday. I'm excited to see different cultures and meet people.

Interests

I'm a writer. My present project is telling the stories behind photographs and photographers for EthnoTraveler.

• writing
• books
• photography
• coloring
• walking
• movies
• reading
• traveling
• socializing
• scrapbooking
• sports
• basketball
• freelancing
• journalism

Music, Movies, and Books

Authors: Wendell Berry. Donald Hall. Colum McCann. Orhan Pamuk.
Music: Sufjan Stevens. Death Cab for Cutie. Radiohead.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

A simple reflection from my first time traveling overseas: I remember walking down a dark cobblestone street in the “Old Market” in Poznan, Poland. It almost felt like an alley. At the end of the street was a Catholic church that had a pink facade. It know it’s cliche, but, as tight and dreary as the street felt, that color seemed to shine like a light at the end of a tunnel. I also remember walking through the front door and finding an old lady near the back. She was the only person in the entire place. We were tourists. Curious and impressed. We came for a moment. We took our pictures and left, off to see more sights. But that woman left a mark. Her small presence in that huge, empty room was embedded into my mind. She was there for quiet, rest, worship. It was a consecrated space that welcomed her in and gave her more than a memory to put in a scrapbook.