A Californian expatriate, I'm a post graduate student at the University of Edinburgh with every intention of staying in Scotland.

I'm not so good on land, but make up for it by being especially good at not drowning. I'm a bit obsessed with open-water distance swimming, and really just water in general. I've been learning how to sail on a small 12' boat, and hoping to learn how to scuba dive next.

Also, I frequently write creative non-fiction pieces about my experiences while traveling. I suppose part of my wanderlust stems from the desire to understand the motivations and aspirations of people, so that in the future I can draw upon those experiences to write something significant. In fact, if I meet you along my travels, there's a decent possibility that you'll find a certain likeness to yourself in one of my publications one day.

This tends to create a curious travel style. While I'm interested in exploring the landmarks that define a region, often I'm more fascinated with having conversations and exchanging ideas with locals. In fact, my favorite memories are less likely to come from visiting a physical location than from having met some of the people who reflect a city's character.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

As a university student, my time and earning potential is a bit limited. And yet, I refuse to be limited. So I find ways to see the world by catching the cheapest flight I can find to a place I haven't been before, and then hitch hike for transportation and couch surf for accommodation (sometimes using this site, other times staying with people I've met after chatting for a while at a pub). The reflex kindness that has been extended to me, from complete strangers, has left me with renewed hope in a world that it seems our media is constantly trying to portray as dangerous and unreliable.

Plus, I find the freedom of spontaneity super gratifying.

Interests

• writing
• reading
• hiking
• rock climbing
• swimming
• hitchhiking
• card games
• watercolor

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: 1) Donnie Darko; 2) The Big Labowski; 3) Practical Magic; 4) Avatar; and 5) The Last Unicorn.

Music: 1) Angus and Julia Stone; 2) The Decemberists; 3) Cake; 4) Twentyone Pilots; and 5) Macklemore.

Books: I don't have a favorite book. I have hundreds. Here are five: 1)Milk and Honey - Rupi Kaur; 2) The Clan of the Cave Bear - Jean M. Auel; 3) The Stupidest Angel - Christopher Moore; 4) The Crow Road - Ian Banks; and of course, 5) Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

In Hawaii, on the island of Oahu, there is a waterfall hike called Sacred Falls on the east side. It had been closed due to frequent rockfall and flash floods, but against all good judgement I went to this utterly abandoned and overgrown trailhead with a couple friends while we all lived on the island. We arrived at what was the most perfectly clear water I've ever seen, even by pacific island standards.

Teach, Learn, Share

Unfortunately, I feel like in the past year or two couch surfing has been mistaken for two different things:

1) Tinder. It just isn't a tinder, my friends. The heart behind this community is platonic-- it's about friends you haven't met yet. And that's a really pretty idea that probably shouldn't be muddled up with hormones.

2)A Free Hostel. As a guest you should, at some point, be willing to interact with your host. Yes, it's a free couch. But the purpose behind that couch is to get to know who owns it at some point-- even if it's just over a pint in the evening. And yet, it's also important to able and willing to independently explore when necessary.

[Please feel free to add this to your profile, if you'd like. You can credit me, but I don't mind either way.]

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can tell your fortune. :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Croatia, England, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Scotland, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Italy, United Kingdom, United States