I'm a passionate child welfare advocate professionally and personally. I'm a great listener, I truly care about each person I meet, and have great stories to share as well! I don't cook much, but I'll eat/ help clean... I'm a great guest. I've always loved living in groups and often found my personality was the glue that kept everyone connected. I'm in an interesting point in my life and am always open to sharing and always excited to learn another's story too. I'm also chill and can easily keep to myself as well, depending what is needed. Whether I'm the host or hostee I'm always aware of what another person needs. Most people consider me flexible and warming to be around. My mantra is always to leave a place cleaner than I found it!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

To make trips more meaningful and experience places from within the community. To have a more home-like base away from home. To push myself out my comfort zone and let myself expand my awareness through the perspective of another.

Interests

Being somewhat recently out of graduate school it's hard to fine tune what my true interests are! Main reason for the need to travel, to broaden my perspective.

• animals
• cats
• culture
• dancing
• beer
• coffee
• meditation
• news
• board games
• traveling
• hiking
• camping
• jewish
• swimming
• biology
• economics
• environmental studies
• genealogy
• geopolitics
• neuroscience
• psychology
• public policy
• social work
• sociology
• adventure
• relaxing
• plants
• learning new things
• family
• current events
• friendly
• world history
• mental health
• dark humor
• conservation
• connecting
• meat
• dark chocolate
• botany
• native american culture
• jewish culture
• helping others
• architecure
• lgbtq
• flexible
• cultural geography
• african american culture
• international adoption
• transracial adoption
• family preservation

Music, Movies, and Books

Books: Dystopian novels, non-fiction books, podcasts and trainings on subjects such as trauma, brain science, adoption and foster care,

TV/Movies: John Oliver, Seth Meyers, Stephen Colbert, Trevor Noah (in that order), Saturday Night Live, The Great British Baking Show, Breaking Bad, The Handmaid's Tale, South Park, New Girl, The Good Place, Sailor Moon, Man in the High Castle, Shameless, Orange is the New Black, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Jessica Jones

Music: Hip hop and rock mostly... also girly feel good music, can't really explain it. Anything but country, but I'll tolerate anything! I listen to Beyonce, Lily Allen, 90's hip hop in general, dance music like Avicii, more African American type oldies like Motown, Al Green, hard rock like Pantera, System of a Down. I used to listen to Beatles, Doors and Bob Marley type stuff quite a lot but toned it down over the years. I'm just as happy listening to the radio. I do also love Beats Antique, Lady Gaga, E-40, 2 Chains, Ella Fitzgerald, Incubus, Jazz Addixx, Iron Maiden, Lauryn Hill, Lil' Kim, Ludacris, Peaches (saw her live!), Rihanna, CardiB, Taylor Swift, Postal Service, White Stripes...

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Advocated on Capitol Hill for foster youth to receive specific supportive services around mental health issues effecting their family members.

Teach, Learn, Share

I love learning how others minds work. I can share practically anything.

What I Can Share with Hosts

A kind, genuine and compassionate me just being me.

Countries I’ve Visited

Israel

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States