Hello! I'm Brittany. I'm originally from New York, but I also grew up in Wyoming. Currently, I'm living in Salt Lake City. I spent the majority of my post-college years living abroad on and on, teaching English in South Korea and Taiwan and doing a Working Holiday in New Zealand. I would describe myself as an adventurous, positive, and compassionate person. I love exploring no matter where I am and I receive so much joy from meeting new people and having conversations about any and everything brought to the table. One of my nicknames is "The Question Master" because I can engage pretty much everyone in conversation. I don't do small talk, so I get right to the interesting things! Besides spending all my time talking with people, I could also spend all hours of the day going on outdoor adventures. I can't seem to get enough of waterfalls (sadly, I haven't been to one in far too long), seeking out solitude in the countryside, taking road trips on a scooter or in a car, and camping, hiking, laughing, cooking, and creating unforgettable memories with extraordinary people.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm on Couchsurfing because I first began surfing in New Zealand and had such genuine and memorable stays with people that I had to repay that kindness by opening my home to travelers like me in Taiwan (and I intend to continue hosting and surfing once I have my own space again). I love Couchsurfing because meeting locals is one of the best aspects of seeing the world, and it really takes you off the beaten tourist/traveler circuit, which especially nowadays, I avoid as much as possible.

Interests

My interests are ever changing, but I will forever love photography, taking long, long walks, swimming, biking, running, staying active through hiking/tramping and playing sports, reading, writing, listening to music and dancing, going on road trips, camping, working with children, learning new languages (attempting to, rather), and doing anything that makes me feel good. I also take great pleasure in cooking and baking, either on my own or with others.

• cooking
• hiking
• backpacking
• camping

Music, Movies, and Books

I have trouble narrowing things down to favorites, BUT one of my favorite books is "The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway and I love rereading "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" series.

I find travel writing inspiring as well and as far as narratives are concerned, I thoroughly enjoyed "Shantaram" and "Papillion".

When it comes to music, I'm all over the board: from Marvin Gaye to Bob Marley to The Doors to Michael Jackson to Lana del Rey. My mood is constantly changing when it comes to my musical selection, so some days I need something chill and soft while other days I'm boogieing all over the place or rockin' out. And as far as movies are concerned, I love my black and white films, particularly film noir from the 30's and 40's. I'm more intrigued by drama than comedy, but that doesn't mean I don't like a film that gives me a good laugh now and again. And I'm a huge fan of foreign films, so if you're willing to watch a flick with subtitles, I'll be your partner in crime!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I love challenging myself in all ways possible. I hate the mundane and I'm easily bored by routine, so whenever I have the chance, I set out to do something that makes my heart race while simultaneously making others question my sanity. I've been very fortunate to do so many incredible things, so it's difficult to narrow it down to just one, but here goes! 2016 hadn't been a great year for me, so I started making lots of changes in my life. I cut out negative people, meaningless aspects of my lifestyle, and a questionable mindset in order to begin attaining what I desired from life. Therefore, at the start of 2017, I set off to do a solo road trip on my scooter down the east coast of Taiwan, starting in Taipei and ending up south in Kenting before making my way home to Kaohsiung. Sooooo many people voiced their concerns about my plan, but I didn't listen because I believed in myself and knew that I would be completely fine because a solo adventure was just what I was long overdue for. Truth be told, I thought that I'd be spending a lot of time alone during those ten days. I was quite mistaken though because during that trip, I met awesome people: one who would even become one of my best friends in Taiwan. I realized during that time that the vibes that I was putting out were helping me to attract people I wanted in my life. After that, it just began happening naturally that I met person after person to befriend. My circle of friends expanded and I finally found "my people:" the ones who wanted to explore nature with me, get a little crazy, have deep conversations, and basically develop friendships of the very best kind. That little east coast road trip honestly changed my life and made my time in Taiwan worthwhile.

Teach, Learn, Share

Hmmm, I'm a former teacher (and still do quite a bit of educating in my current profession), so I could teach you anything at which I am proficient. I wouldn't mind reading any writing you have (proofreading, editing, just giving helpful feedback) or going out and taking photos together. If you speak Spanish, I would love to practice with you! I could definitely teach you how to cook/bake some yumminess and wouldn't mind learning how to make tasty, new dishes in return! Basically, I love learning new things and returning the favor by sharing something I know how to do. I'm currently learning French, so practicing speaking with people would be delightful!

What I Can Share with Hosts

With my hosts, I can share my friendship, my stories, my good listening skills, and my cooking/baking abilities. I'm always dying to learn more about others, so conversations with me are open and never lacking enthusiasm. I also think I'm a good cook (and I actually like doing dishes!), so I wouldn't mind preparing meals to share together.

Countries I’ve Visited

Cambodia, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, France, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Panama, Philippines, Qatar, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan, United States