I started Couchsurfing in 2016 after I did a semester abroad on a ship in the spring and then backpacked Europe solo for two months in the summer 😊 (see “one amazing thing I’ve done” below!) Now, I'm traveling with my younger sister (21 years old) around Europe, specifically around Italy and Spain.

More about me: I just finished my bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and in Theology and Religious Studies at the University of San Diego. I plan to start working towards my Doctorate’s degree next year (somewhere, unknown as of yet!), and ultimately to teach in a university. I've learned that I'm not the type of traveler that rushes to all the sights in the city, so I wouldn't ask for a lot of your time. I'm always just happy to hang out with new people and try the local beer or wine (: It's always a plus if you have an afternoon free to show me around though!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I think the most fulfilling way to travel is by means of personal connections with locals. Through CS, not only do you get a better feel for the place you're visiting than you would on your own, but also experiencing the pure generosity of CS hosts enriches the traveling (and, frankly, life itself).

Interests

~Traveling (of course!)

~Reading-- See “books” section 😊

~Good conversation-- usually involving some intellectual controversy and debate ;)

~Beer (hopefully accompanied by the above ~)

~Both skiing and snowboarding, although I'm not very good at either!

~Religious art and architecture (museums, old churches, mosques, etc.)

~Philosophy-- including political philosophy (e.g. radical feminism, anarchism, libertarianism, liberalism) and the philosophy of religion.

• books
• beer
• coffee
• reading
• music
• backpacking
• skiing
• snowboarding
• philosophy
• religion
• travel

Music, Movies, and Books

I really love alternative music (both indie and rock) but I always love listening to what other people's favorite artists are and hearing new music :) I do have a broad taste in music though (doesn't everyone say that?), but yeah, some rap here and there, country, R&B, pop, some opera and broadway...

I love to read, but mostly nonfiction, academic books about philosophy and/or religion (specifically Christianity, although I have studied other traditions in-depth!). I also love to read travel writing and Russian novelists (particularly Dostoevsky).

Some movies that I recommend without reservation:
Fight Club, Shawshank Redemption, Good Will Hunting, The Dark Knight... Just to name a few. I love psychological thrillers and action movies but also some more low-key indie films as well.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I lived on a ship for four months for a university semester abroad and sailed around the world to Asia, India, and Africa-- 11 countries in total. I took university classes while in transit, made friends from all over the world (met Desmond Tutu!), and then backpacked Europe *alone* for two months. That 6 months straight of travel definitely left me with a passion for it!

Teach, Learn, Share

Almost anything someone else can teach me I'm ready to learn :)

I'm a pretty poor chef, but I would love to learn how to cook more though! I'm great with a deck of cards (I grew up in Las Vegas, what do you expect?), and I love teaching and learning new games.

I've got a degree in philosophy though, so I can pretty much talk your ear off about a lot of weird, mind-boggling things, and I'd love to pick your brain about many others.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I'm up for (almost) anything! And there's never a shortage of things to chat about with me :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, China, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Ghana, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Scotland, Serbia, South Africa, Switzerland, Turkey, United States, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States