I love travel, languages, reading, creative writing, volunteering, cooking, art, jazz, dancing, humor, board games. I have been lucky enough to live and work in China, Mexico, Thailand, France, Republic of Georgia, Thailand, Mali, West Africa. I have been lucky enough to follow up on those travels by hosting friends from all over here in the States. I love kids and cats. I am very neat and clean. I do dishes. I don't push my intermittent and imperfect Mahayana Buddhist practice on anyone.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I served in Peace Corps and AmeriCorps, Red Cross (Katrina). Even when not volunteering, my choice professions of social work, teaching, and writing don't support luxury travel. Luckily I prefer creative travel anyway, especially meeting interesting people. I am insatiably curious and find most everyone fascinating in some way, although my interest will be strictly platonic. I am a very independent traveler. Of course everything is better when shared, especially with locals, but I am very able to entertain myself as well - strictly platonically.

Interests

• dancing
• cooking
• board games
• reading
• jazz
• languages
• volunteering
• travel
• art
• humor
• creative writing

Music, Movies, and Books

I enjoy world music: dancehall, dixieland, cumbia, ragas, soca, norteno, kompa, zairois, highlife...
Although I read almost all genres, and grew up reading the classics, I am currently heavy into reading all the Nobel prize winners from around the world.
My film school friend teased me for reading classics but watching escapist silly comedy movies. He challenged me to watch the films of the Criterion collection and I have seen about half of them so far - again from all over the world.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

For two years I lived in a mud hut and ate millet paste dipped in leaf sauce twice a day and enjoyed the spiritual feeling of sleeping under the mazillions stars on every horizon of the Saharan night sky, except during the sandstorms of course.

Teach, Learn, Share

I am happy to share my languages with anyone interested, including translations. I can workshop writing manuscripts. I can teach the fun outdoor game of 4 square to any who have forgotten or never knew it. I know a few stories...

What I Can Share with Hosts

I am happy to share my languages with anyone interested, including translations. I can workshop writing manuscripts. I can teach the fun outdoor game of 4 square to any who have forgotten or never knew it. I know a few stories...

Countries I’ve Visited

Burkina Faso, Netherlands, Paraguay, Saint Lucia

Countries I’ve Lived In

China, France, Georgia, Mali, Mexico, Thailand