CURRENT MISSION

To find great people

ABOUT ME

I was lucky enough to begin traveling as a child with my family. We traveled extensively through my home state of Utah- camping and hiking. By the time I was ten I had already been to Europe.
After high school there seemed no better way to celebrate my independence than to go abroad again. I went back to Italy, where my family comes from and really got bitten by the travel bug. I have been leaving the US nearly every year since then and have expanded my travels to Asia/the Middle East.
These days I stick closer to home, finding joy in my garden and my many animals - dogs, chickens, ducks. And I am once again exploring the endless beauty of my home state, often climbing into the mountains and descending into the desert.

PHILOSOPHY

I am not much of a philosopher, but I believe that all people are inherently good, and my travels always confirm that notion- that's why I travel.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I couch surfed through the Middle East two years ago and that trip made me a firm believer that couch surfing is the best way to travel and meet people, especially locals. I never had a bad experience.
I don't travel as much as I used to but I still enjoy hosting along with my husband who is also a long time couch surfer. We often feel after a few days of hosting that we are spending time with friends instead of strangers.

Interests

anything outdoors- hiking, biking, frisbee, camping, climbing
always an avid reader with her nose in a book

• books
• walking
• traveling
• socializing
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• hiking
• camping
• surfing
• rock climbing
• nursing
• philosophy

Music, Movies, and Books

Anything western americana: James Galvin, Gretel Erlich, Willa Cather. I'm also a big magazine reader: Harpers, New Yorker, Orion, Nat Geo.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

When I visited my sister at the hospital where she was working in Kenya the spring of 2012 I got to be with her during the delivery of a baby. I will never forget her confidently pulling on her sterile gloves and walking over to the woman to massage her belly and watching the nurse scoop blood from off the birthing table with a metal pan and dump it into a plastic bucket at her feet. It was terrifying, fascinating and beautiful and gave me new respect for women.

Teach, Learn, Share

When people come to visit we, my husband and I, often spend a lot of time sitting in the backyard sharing food and talking, but we also enjoy taking guests out on the town. We've taken cs guests to eat at the mexican taco stands on State St, to watch 4th of July fireworks, to see punk shows downtown. And, since this is the town we grew up in, we have lots of ideas of what to see and where to go when we are not around, and we can help decipher public transportation.

What I Can Share with Hosts

When I travel, meeting my host and spending time with them is as important as seeing the place I am visiting. I always hope that we can spend some time together and share a meal. I look at my host as a window into the place I am visiting and the best resource for discovering the place on a more intimate and real level.

Countries I’ve Visited

Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Syrian Arab Republic, Tanzania, Tunisia, Turkey

Countries I’ve Lived In

Italy, United States

•