"Most Likely to Travel the World" Or at least, that's what my high school classmates thought (true story). I've got a long way to go, but I'd sure like to live up to that superlative!

In the meantime, I live in Canada's capital and work as a communications specialist for an organization that focuses on knowledge mobilization and quality improvement within the child and youth mental health and addictions sector.

I've dubbed 2023 my year of musical gluttony and all of my travels this year are centered on music festivals and concerts. Notably, this includes three trips to the UK, because I have fallen deep down the rabbit hole of Indie and unsigned artists that I cannot see anywhere else, as yet.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

It's a great way to enrich traveling experiences and meet awesome people, particularly when traveling solo!

Being single (divorced) and of an age where many friends have young kids and all of us are beholden to work schedules, it's hard to make travel plans with friends. That being said, I'm also neurodivergent and even though I really love connecting with people, I need a lot of alone time to be at my best... so traveling solo and using CS is pretty ideal.

Interests

You don't want to hear me wax poetic about music, but it's truly my most loyal and trustworthy friend. I've never found belonging anywhere or felt seen by anyone the way I do within the lyrics and melodies of my favourite music. I am always, always, always up for discovering new music and going to gigs! Without any degree of shame, I will tell you that I have fully embraced being a "queenager" and no longer attempt to suppress the natural enthusiasm and devotion of my inner fangirl. I won't abide by misogynistic double standards that ridicule girls and women for the things that excite, inspire, and uplift them while having no problem with grown men losing their minds at sporting events, for example.

I have also always been a pretty voracious reader, though I have transitioned largely to audiobooks so that I can be busy with my hands while "reading". My personal version of hell would be to have to listen to audiobooks at 1x speed.

And I love a good conversation. Soul-bearing, world-changing or intellectual, I love it all. Don't get me wrong... I definitely subscribe to my fair share of celebrity and other inane gossip. We've all got our guilty pleasures, right?

• writing
• reading
• music
• hiking

Music, Movies, and Books

This is an impossible question. Across the board, my taste is sometimes cheesy and deeply rooted in nostalgia. Like, I am currently rewatching One Tree Hill, which was my fave show when I was in high school in the early aughts. Otherwise, I don't watch a lot of TV or movies anymore. Usually, I tend to read a lot of memoir and humorous non-fiction, but I've been so deep in my musical fixation that quite literally the only thing I've read since November is fan fiction.

With music, in particular, I go through long stages of hyper fixation before my cravings vacillate wildly and suddenly. To whit, all 100 of my most played songs in 2021 were either Afrobeats or country. In 2022, the bulk of my top 100 songs were by One Direction or former members of said band (despite having never been into them when they were active). This year, I'm right back where I was back when everyone else was into 1D: Deeply entrenched somewhere along the Indie/alt-rock spectrum. (Well that, and following Louis Tomlinson on tour).

While I take music and literature very seriously in the role it plays in my life and well-being, I'm not someone who believes that it has to be high art to be worthwhile. I, too, hate when songs get so overplayed that they make you feel downright homicidal (just me?) but I can't stand literary and musical snobbery, including the belief that "mainstream" automatically equals bad or otherwise "lacking in substance". Sometimes, something absurd, escapist, catchy or just plain fun is precisely what I need.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Isn't it funny that you can think you've never done anything all that amazing in your life until you're suddenly faced with the prompt to put just one thing?

Traveling alone isn't really exceptional in Couchsurfing circles, but I would say that my various adventures, especially the solo ones, have collectively been the most amazing thing that I've done, and they've been the best education money can buy.

Teach, Learn, Share

Most of the things I'm good at are not easily shared, but I'm always happy to share a laugh, a meal, my limited knowledge and insights, or a listening ear.

Despite my love for music, I don't play any instruments (a casualty of a late ADHD diagnosis, I fear)... but I'm trying to pick up the keyboard now and would appreciate any pointers or other insights related to that or anything music or music industry related. Would absolutely looooove to learn about podcasting. I also love to sing (but just for fun) and am always game for a night of karaoke. (Just don't tell me you weren't warned in advance about my voice. Despite the fact that I might sound tone-deaf, I can assure you: I can tell when I'm pitchy and out of tune and I'm not happy about it... I simply don't have the technique to make my voice do what I want it to do.)

Would love any occasion to practice Portuguese or keep up with my French.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Sometimes, I have concert tickets to share. Sometimes, I have extra time to spare if you need help with something around the house or a document that needs copyediting. Sometimes, I have a favourite recipe just itching to be used.

I'm ALWAYS willing to share stories, new experiences, and a good conversation.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, England, France, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, Mexico, Netherlands, Panama, Peru, Slovakia, South Africa, Switzerland, United States, Virgin Islands, British, Virgin Islands, U.S.

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, France, United States