Hi there! My name is Claire, I'm 23 years old, and American. I'm an English Teacher Assistant in France and I spend my days teaching online and planning my next vacation. I'm new to Couchsurfing (joined June 2018) and excited to join this lovely, welcoming community.

My Background:
I grew up in Buffalo, New York. If you're not American, it's right next to the beautiful Niagara Falls. If you're American, it's the home of Buffalo wings (aka chicken wings, as we call them here). And finally, if you're an NFL fan, it's the home of the Buffalo Bills. Yes, that's right. The worst team in the league, but we're crazy for them anyway.

My travels:
I've studied abroad in Senegal, I've worked in France, and I've vacationed in the UK. Canada too, but it doesn't feel like another country as I grew up 20 minutes from the border drinking Tim Hortons coffee every day (Canadians will understand ;) ).

My interests:
Learning languages and cultural exchange are my passions. I love anything related to water, from paddle boarding to ferry boats to tanning next to it. Currently, I'm trying to better my cooking and baking skills.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm mainly here for the cultural exchange. I love meeting new people and learning unexpected details about their daily life, culture, and country. As an English teacher, I've had students from all around the world and my favorite thing is discovering new things about their holidays, food, politics...anything and everything.

I joined Couchsurfing because you get to hang out with a local. Let's go to your favorite coffee shop or show me your favorite park to walk your dog. When I travel, I prefer to not feel like a tourist (even while engaging in touristy activities). Lastly, no matter how much I plan ahead, I usually end up getting lost at least once during my travels. This has its good, but also bad sides, so I appreciate any help I can get.

Interests

• cats
• cooking
• baking
• yoga
• pilates
• hiking
• teaching
• language exchange
• learning languages
• dance
• biking
• france
• french
• netflix
• paddleboarding

Teach, Learn, Share

Growing up in Buffalo, I can tell you it's a lot more than just Niagara Falls or Buffalo wings. Feel free to message me for any tips on getting around or going out.

I'm pretty much an amateur in most of my hobbies: biking, hiking, cooking, pilates... So, it's great if you can teach me any new skills. Bonus points if you introduce me to a new sport or activity!

I'm a language junkie. Teach me some basics in your language and I will be overjoyed. Currently, learning Spanish in my free time and any help is appreciated, Gracias!

What I Can Share with Hosts

English - Not only am I a native speaker, but even better I'm a teacher with lots and lots of experience. I love helping people learn English because it means I can help them reach other goals in their career, studies, or travels.

French - Not a native speaker, but happy to help and practice with you. I've lived in France for year now so I've also become an expert in crepes, croissants, and cheese. Oh la la!

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, England, France, Scotland, Senegal, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, United States