CURRENT MISSION

Still working out the details, but focused on the big picture.

ABOUT ME

From an Italian heritage family, I was born on the West coast, and have moved around a lot. I have mostly lived in the Midwest over the last decade, but I have recently moved to Texas to pursue my degree in philosophy. My roots, however, run deep back to West Coast culture; that culture being free-thinking and easy-going attitudes. I'm not rebellious or rash, but I prefer to be a unique individual instead of conforming to the mold of the world. I have a deep desire to travel around the world multiple times, simply to show love to the people I meet and to spread independent thinking and unconditional love. I am not a missionary or a tourist, I simply love traveling and encouraging open minds and open hearts wherever I go. I currently have no permanent roots, although grad school will keep me in Texas for the next 5 years. My future plans are whatever I make of them. There is something so freeing about no firm roots, but eventually I do want to settle down and contribute to a local community.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I will be surfing and hosting when possible.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Only through people I know did I start couch surfing. From cold leather couches in excessively small apartments, to full size mattresses in fully finished basements all to myself. Everywhere in between I have been. As far as strangers, or friends I haven't met yet (same thing), I've staying with Ukrainians at a cabin in the woods, an acroyoga instructor and her pet hedgehog, a social justice lawyer and radio show speaker, as well as a French family that lives on a desert mountain. I've loved it all!

Interests

Coffee, tea, art (any kind of art), music (listening more so), reading, writing, discovering peoples stories, hiking, camping, fishing, stargazing, handcrafting, cooking, eating what was cooked and obviously travelling.

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Noah Gundersen, Ben Howard, Head and the Heart, William Fitzsimmons, Keaton Henson, Bon Iver, Of Monsters and Men, Simon and Garfunkel, Belle & Sebastian, Isbells, Joel Baker, Kiersten Holine, Lord Huron, The Oh Hello's, Radical Face, Sleepy Turtles, Volcano Choir, Yellow Ostrich, Abandon Kansas, The Brilliance, Gungor, John Mark McMillan, Sojourn, Ghost Ship

Movies: Forrest Gump, Into the Wild, Pride & Prejudice, Goodwill Hunting, 500 Days of Summer, Life is Beautiful, Moonrise Kingdom...

Books: A wide variety of non-fiction books, including topics on ethics and political philosophy, anything authored by Thich Nhat Hanh, and generally anything dealing with mysticism, connecting with nature, and meditation practices. Fiction book favorites include The Fountainhead, The Catcher In the Rye, Civil Disobedience...

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I could say live my life, but that's very vague. I hope everyone thinks their own lives are amazing, but here are some things that have made mine amazing over the course of my life travels:
- sneaking into a Pentecostal Conference in Nashville to wave flags people I met by helping them by gum in the city
- visiting those same people in Albuquerque and hiking a mountain to see the sunrise
- climbing a totem pole on the banks of a Washington inlet with some incredible Ukrainians
- clamming on the coast of Oregon even when it's hard to see your hand through the fog
- climbed a chapel in Point Loma to see the moon reflecting on crashing waves with the SD skyline at our backs
- learning to love P!nk's music because of an introspective homeless lady in Key West
- swam off the coast of Maine without freezing solid
- rode in the back of a pickup for an hour hitchhiking through Tennessee
- making improv margaritas while canoeing a river, then tipping the canoe and having to pick up our mess before it floated down stream
- contra danced at a tiny building in the woods of SC
- picked apples on an orchard and learned about the universe
- learned how to cook and eat homemade Indian food with my hands

My travels have left me countless stories, but these ones will be hard to forget.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Good conversation, peace and love, different perspectives or anything that might be needed.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States