CURRENT MISSION

Trying to graduate from my Master's program with as little debt as possible...without missing out on any adventures and experiences that come my way :)

ABOUT ME

I'm a California-native wandering (and wondering) my way through the East Coast. I'm currently a Master's student living in Cambridge, MA and studying public health, with a focus on social and behavioral sciences and social and behavior change communication. I'm pursuing a career in international community development, hoping to find opportunities abroad after I graduate. Before moving to the Boston area, I spent three years running around Washington, D.C. while working at a health care research and technology firm (exciting, I know...). Before that, I spent four wonderful years at UC Berkeley (go Bears!) studying English literature and public health -- which really meant that I spent most of my time sprinting from one corner of campus to another with novels in hand, hoping that I wouldn't trip on the uneven pavement (I did.).

PHILOSOPHY

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly." -MLK Jr.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Sadly, I had to restart my account after a few years of inactivity (boo, job with limited time-off...) which, combined with a life-long affliction with extreme forgetfulness, means I don't remember my old account information. Also sometimes I just need to make easier passwords...

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

But I'm back and looking to meet and experience new places, cultures, and people! I love, love, love, love, love to travel and am currently planning a 3-6 month adventure-around-the-world-or-as-far-as-I-can-get-on-a-limited-student-budget after graduation. Suggestions welcome :) I've been fortunate enough that my studies/work have taken me to some amazing places (most recently a rural village in Southern India) and allowed me to explore a piece of the diverse cultures, perspectives, and people that the world has to offer...and I'm looking to explore more :D

Interests

Everything! Jk I wish. I'm a former dancer and pianist, trying to regain any agility in my toes and fingers that I can. I sing. I love music. I cook and bake, mostly because I love to eat. I like to hike, rock climb, and generally try to spend as much time in the mountains and trees as I can. I love books, but having to read for school has made me less inclined to read for fun.

• books
• literature
• singing
• dancing
• cooking
• running
• sprinting
• technology
• traveling
• music
• hiking
• hang gliding
• hitchhiking
• beaches
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

MUSIC

Depends on my mood. But almost everything. Except country (sorry...).

MOVIES

Dead Poet's Society, The Breakfast Club, Boondock Saints, Serendipity

BOOKS

Currently reading: The New Jim Crow, The Emperor of All Maladies, Epidemiology and the People's Health, Yes Please.
Recent favorites: Shantaram, Behind the Beautiful Forevers, Gone Girl, When You're Engulfed in Flames, Me Before You.
Forever favorites: Pride & Prejudice, Anna Karenina, Slaughterhouse-Five, Harry Potter Series, Paradise Lost.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

After a short, but wonderful hike in Rio (with great views!), my friends and I were running down the mountain in an effort to save time because we wanted to squeeze in hang gliding before the day was over. Ended up hitchhiking our way back down and to the hang gliding spot, only to be told that the wait was an hour and the price was way too expensive. Deterred, our new friends drove us all the way to the base of the mountain, near the beach where the hang gliders land. We decided to check it out one more time and ended up getting a MUCH better price without the wait! Then I ran off a wooden platform into nothingness and floated through the sky for 15 minutes, and it was great.

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Monaco, Panama, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

China, France, India, United States