I am a professional baker. I love dining and trying new foods just as much as I enjoy preparing them. I currently spend the austral summers working with the United States Antarctic Program preparing food for the scientists and various support personnel that are stationed down there. During the boreal summer I work for a back country lodge on the tundras of Denali National Park in Alaska. These jobs have allowed me a great deal of travel and unique experiences that I had only dreamed of a few years ago.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I only started traveling a couple years ago after my first trip down to Antarctica. I got hooked on the seasonal work lifestyle. I have been able to meet a ton of awesome new people and because I have a few months off every year, I am able to travel way more than I ever thought I would be able to while working a traditional job back home. I've had friends recommend couchsurfing and they have told me about their positive experiences. I am interested in meeting people and learning about the places they call home.

Interests

I enjoy adventurous eating and drinking. I love hiking and backpacking. I'm a big fan of mountains, coffee, bread, computers, birds, beer, wool socks, live music (preferably while sitting down), audiobooks, and donuts. I also spend the majority of my year living in places with 24 hours of sunlight, so I am a huge fan of stars and the night sky.

• birds
• arts
• dining
• cooking
• beer
• coffee
• baking
• drinking
• traveling
• socializing
• music
• live music
• hiking
• backpacking
• rock climbing
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

Music:
My Morning Jacket, Electric Wizard, Ben Folds, Hella, Joanna Newsom, Earth, Father John Misty, Animal Collective, Red Fang, Midlake, Polica, Black Moth Super Rainbow

Movies:
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, The Life Aquatic, The New World, The Fearless Vampire Killers, Lord of the Rings, Princess Mononoke, The Pianist, The Fall, 2001: A Space Odyssey

Books:
Hyperion by Dan Simmons, Other Voices Other Rooms by Truman Capote, The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin, John Dies at the End by David Wong, Slapstick by Kurt Vonnegut

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I got to climb down a tube that extended beneath the sea ice in Antarctica. There were windows at the bottom so you could see out into the polar ocean and observe a star field of marine life moving in slow motion. I could hear seals, whales, and the ice cracking and moaning from all directions. It was like climbing down a ladder into another dimension.

Teach, Learn, Share

I have a very broad knowledge of the baking and pastry arts, and I am happy to share what I know. I have a lot of experience in bread baking, and I am a pretty decent cook. I love learning about (and trying) the culinary traditions of other people.

What I Can Share with Hosts

My baking and cooking skills!

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand

Countries I’ve Lived In

Antarctica, United States