CURRENT MISSION

You only have one life to live, make the most of it!

ABOUT ME

I am easy going, light hearted, and look for the good in life. I care about making the world a better place; socially and environmentally. I'm liberal in my politics and respect people with lifestyles/religions different from my own - diversity is what keeps life interesting, without it there would be little to discover.

I grow trees from seed, for the sole purpose of giving them away for free, just to help the earth and beautify my community at the same time. One of my pictures is of first-year seedlings in my garden (on the left) and a four year old seedling (right) in a recipient's yard. Planting trees in my own community may be one small step towards curbing global warming, but it is one of the few things - with tangible results- that I can actually do.

I am a stained glass and mosaic artist. I volunteer with international students, helping them improve their English skills. I enjoy seeing them succeed, hearing their stories and learning about their countries. I love animals, especially dogs. I can't stand waste, which makes me a fastidious recycler and finding ways to repurpose things.

PHILOSOPHY

Live your life in a way that makes life easier, kinder, gentler for others.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I enjoy the social interaction of CSing because I'm a "people person". When traveling internationally, I like the way CSing allows me to truly experience the local culture. When you stay in hotels, you see a place through a closed window. Staying in someone's home is the only way to immerse yourself in the local culture.

Interests

I enjoy travel, international cultures, gardening, NPR, cooking healthy foods with ethnic influences (Indian is my favorite), music, reading, promoting tree plantings, building things, thrift stores, being in nature (backpacking in desert canyons, biking, gentle water kayaking, cross country skiing).

• arts
• causes
• cooking
• gardening
• thrifting
• reading
• traveling
• music
• cycling
• backpacking
• kayaking
• skiing
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Kate Price, Dark Moll, Solas, Enya, Yanni, Josh Ritter, Music: Debbie Friedman, Tinariwen, Chinmaya Dunster....
Movies - uplifting, fun: My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Spanglish....
Documentaries: Searching for Sugarman, 20' From Stardom, Under African Skies...
Books about interesting people: Daughter of Persia, All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes, Reading Lolita in Tehran, Mountains Beyond Mountains, Boys in the Boat, A Fifty Year Silence, In a Rocket Made of Ice....

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Backpacking in awe inspiring places - beautiful, vast, quiet. The world is a better place because wild places simply exist.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can tell you how a stained glass window is made, how a sheet of glass is mouth blown, or what it's like to make your living from the arts. I'm good with a needle and thread. I'd be glad to mend that moth hole in your sweater ("jumper" to you Brits) or the split seam in your child's teddy bear - just ask.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Pleasant conversation about life experiences. I'm a good listener, I love to hear about other's adventures and day-to-day life.

Countries I’ve Visited

Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States