Born and raised in Florida, I long to experience cities that aren’t designed around the car. I love getting around places by foot or by bike, and am on a quest with my boyfriend (Andrew Lesmes, https://www.couchsurfing.com/people/andrew-lesmes) to study cities around the world—and to share inspiration of places built for people. (If you’ve ever been to suburban America, you can understand how soul-crushing of a place it can be).

When not talking about cities, I can be found eating coconut ice cream and reading books (woohoo the Stormlight Archive series!). I love playing card games and ultimate frisbee. I don’t own many fancy clothes, and prefer life in Chacos or hiking boots.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

To say that I’m obsessed with cities—transportation, development, parks, housing, history—is an understatement. I want to see cities from locals’ points of view: Where are your favorite streets, neighborhoods, parks? Your least favorite roads, districts, buildings? How has your city changed over the years? How do you want your city to be in five years? Ten years?

Interests

• walking
• parks
• urban exploration
• food
• biking
• street food
• cities
• urban planning
• card games
• local history
• urbanism
• eating good food
• exploring cities
• old cities
• utility cycling

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Reggae, funk, jazz, Natalia La Fourcade

Movies: I hate to admit it, but I’m a sucker for romantic comedies

Books: Science fiction (The Stormlight Archive Series), environmental history (Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Edward Abbey), and admittedly books that are like romantic comedies

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

My American friend and I once won an Ao Dai modeling competition on International Women’s Day in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. We were studying abroad there during university, and my host family outfitted us in custom ao dais (traditional Vietnamese gown). We headed to a big park where they were having an ao dai competition in celebration of the international holiday. Unbeknownst to us, my host family entered us into the competition. I think our win had more to do with us being the only foreigners in the competition than the best wearers of the ao dai. Nevertheless, it was a wonderfully unexpected and special day.

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach: Issues with suburban development

Learn: Cities and urban design around the world

Share: A love of street food, card games, and menu creation

Countries I’ve Visited

Costa Rica, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, Thailand

Countries I’ve Lived In

Ecuador, United States, Viet Nam