I work for a refugee NGO based out of the US but travel for work and pleasure when I can. The last big trip I did was in 2016 (about five months) in Asia/Australia and Europe and want to do something similar again soon!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I have stayed on a few couches (Iceland, Finland, Germany and France) with absolutely amazing hosts. I also hosted at my apartment in Copenhagen to a Russian and South African. I've met with couchsurfers in Copenhagen and Madison, picked up hitchhiking couchsurfers in New Zealand, and am hoping that I can continue to participate in the community during this three month trip (and beyond).

Interests

Running, biking, yoga, rock climbing (generally being active), participating in community and local cooperatives and their activities, cooking/baking, binge reading during holidays, and languages.

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: V for Vendetta, Inglorious Basterds, Lord of the Rings
Music: Indie, Country, Rap, Hip Hip, etc.
Books: Pillars of the Earth. A Problem from Hell. Rice, Noodle, Fish.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

The summer of 2010 I went on a 40 day Arctic trip with four other girls. We didn't have hot showers, beds, social media, nothing to communicate with the outside world (or live like the outside world for that matter) except an emergency phone incase we lost our food down a river or got attacked by a bear. But during that time I had an amazing experience, living day by day with some women who I consider a few of my best friends.

Teach, Learn, Share

I love languages. But being from Minnesota, I feel a bit disadvantaged in that English was the main thing I heard, as well as bits and pieces of Hmong, Spanish and Somali growing up and the school language courses were kind of a joke. But with what I know of English, Danish, Spanish and French I would love to share even the smallest of phrases of the language with people because, well, who doesn't feel special learning how to pronounce "rødgrød med fløde‏?" I've taught Danish for a number of years, and I absolutely love it, and want to continue teaching, whether languages or politics.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Cooking! Stories! Cleaning up and being courteous.

Countries I’ve Visited

Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, Vatican City State

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, Denmark, Sweden, United States