CURRENT MISSION

Strive

ABOUT ME

***Before you send a CS request, please read this***
I've gotten many requests from some person and "their friend" who want to stay on my couch. If you want to stay here, you BOTH need to have COMPLETE CS profiles, hopefully with positive references. I can't decide if someone is trustworthy or not if they're not even part of the CS system. Thanks!

I am a PhD student at Michigan State University. I love to travel-- so much so that I've moved six times in the four years (Munich, Detroit, Philadelphia, Anchorage, back to Philly, now Lansing). In fact, now I'm pretty stoked about staying in one place for a few years. I might even start to nest :)

I love meeting international people and hearing about their home countries/cultures. I did a lot of work during college with a non-profit that helps international residents and dignitaries get to know Philadelphia better.

I am also pretty passionate about the natural environment. My friends consider me "outdoorsy," since I love running through the park, camping, and hiking. My favorite way to enjoy nature is to be active in it. I am a Plant Biology and Ecology PhD student, so I love to talk about the natural processes and systems behind the beauty, too.

PHILOSOPHY

Relax!

"Glück ist eine Wanderung inmitten schöner, unbekannter Berge." -Hectors Reise

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I've hosted and tried to surf before. I used the Anchorage group to make friends when I first moved to Alaska. Now that I'm settled in Lansing, I'd love to start hosting again.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've hosted a few people, and I am looking forward to doing it more often. I've also shown people around Munich and Philadelphia, quite a bit. Couchsurfers are good people, so I've come to rely on the community to make friends and share awesome experiences.

Interests

Germany, the environment, biology, history, Asia, cities, spicy foods, 30 Rock, folksy music

Apparently I only really want to visit countries that start with the letter I. Hmmm... I wonder why that is....

• beauty
• festivals
• environment
• running
• traveling
• music
• hiking
• camping
• biology
• ecology
• history

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Air, Guster, the Shins, Bassnectar, Franz Ferdinand, Steve Miller, Jack White's musical endeavors, Nintin Swahney

Favorite Movies:Dogma, Snakes on a Plane, Contact, Crash, Rent, Boondock Saints, Memento, Donnie Darko

Favorite Books:A Streetcar Named Desire, The Perfect Mile, Fight Club, Der Vorleser, The Garden of Eden

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I wrestled in the Nadaam Festival in Mongolia. I have a quick video of my defeat should you be interested.

Teach, Learn, Share

Since I've learned German as a native English speaker, I've already had fun enlightening native German speakers on the grammar rules of their own language! I could, of course, do this with people who don't speak German, too.

Also, I will talk your ear off about the American auto industry if you let me.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Bahamas, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Mongolia, Panama, Portugal, South Korea, Spain, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Germany, United States

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