-23 years of age
-Duluth, Minnesota
-travel junkie

My profile picture is one of me playing a character in a film a friend and I made. The character wore a locally grown apple on her hat. Personally, I have never done that, but I am not opposed to the idea.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Hotels sort of make me gag. Let me explain. You see, I was a very lucky kid. I got to travel to lots of interesting places across the globe. Then, I would stay in a hotel. Because apparently (or, so I thought at the time) that is what people do.

Later in life I would begin to study Anthropology, because I love people and find them very interesting.

Recently, through my Anthropology program, I went to Costa Rica to study globalization, ecotourism and sustainability. I was there to learn about the culture so naturally, we were assigned places to live. I couldn't speak much spanish at this time and struggled to communicate at first. But it was amazing! I had two home stay accommodations while in Costa Rica. The first was in the city of San Jose. The home was beautiful and I got to stay with a large family. I was able to learn so much about the importance of family in this context. The second home stay was in the rain forest at a cooperative called El Siliencio. I thrived off the lizards in my room and cold showers. Mi famalia was very compassionate and helped me improve my spanish immensely so we could engage in conversation. My trip to Costa Rica was a game changer. I experienced first hand that by "doing as they do", I could learn a lot about people from a culture quite different from my own, while cultivating meaningful relationships.

I went to Thailand with a group recently and I was bored by the comforts provided. Of course, I must acknowledge that globalization and tourism become a part of culture as it exists in any place. However, I still think I will have a better chance of truly engaging with culture if I sleep on couches and get to know people who live in the places my travels take me.

If I could go back in time, I would ditch all those hotel breakfasts and replace them with quests to cafes. I would swap out sleeping in with sleeping in a new place every night. I would strive to see the city as it's dwellers do. You get the idea. I'm on a mission.

When I am at home, I would love to bring travelers in. I believe that what goes around comes around so I am happy to return the favor to the couchsurfing community.

Interests

My daydreams are filled with food, film, and the art of finding new ways to participate in unfamiliar spaces. I am especially interested in what lies at the intersection of food education & digital culture. I believe the proper fusion of good food-based & tech-made content can be quite potent. If I had it my way, I would film farmers until the cows came home.

My fascination with food began about one week before I left for college. Halfway through reading an upsetting but mind‑blowing book about the industrialized food system, I knew I was going to make some changes in my diet. I had no idea this tangent would lead me to a life promoting the benefits of local food. This came about in part through an education in Anthropology and starting what we call "The GNARfoodz Farm" with my friends. I engage with farming by cultivating a curiosity about the implications of farming - or not farming.

I also love to get my yoga on, paddle board when it's an option, and maybe take a pole dance class here or there. Movement is important to me.

• arts
• culture
• books
• design
• photography
• dancing
• education
• dining
• cooking
• yoga
• dieting
• technology
• reading
• traveling
• anthropology
• business
• communications
• teaching
• entrepreneurship
• tourism
• ecotourism

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Film Muay Thai fighters at their training camps in Thailand.

Teach, Learn, Share

I will list my gigantic, uncontainable passions the way I would on a resume:
My professional interests include Anthropology of Food, Nutritional Anthropology, Medical Anthropology, Film, Photography, Digital Storytelling, Social Media, Website Design/Management, Business Entrepreneurship.

You get the idea.

I'm so down to get down on a chat about any of these ideas/subjects!

I do my work with heart and with the hope that I am contributing to social good. I want to create ways for anyone to engage with any curiosity they may have when it comes to good food. I would love for all consumers to practice “conscious consumption,” but that requires access to information and simple, creative ways to take action, which is what I’m all about providing.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I am mello folk. I go with the flow. I am adaptable. I hope I can make your hosting experience as comfortable as you are making my couchsurfing experience.

Also, I am pretty into food. I would love to cook a meal with or for any of my hosts.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, France, Lithuania, Thailand