CURRENT MISSION

My mission in life is to live it to the fullest and gain as much life experience and knowledge as I can before I die.

ABOUT ME

I am an artist/illustrator and photographer. I love dogs and am currently compiling photographs for a future coffee table book. If you have a cute dog, please hit me up.Also happy to do professional pix of the dogs/families of the people who host me.My travels have taken me all across the US, Canada, Mexico, and all over Europe (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland and Switzerland.) I hope to return to Europe again very soon. If anyone is looking for a guide and wants to pay my way, I'm your gal! :o)

PHILOSOPHY

I am an outgoing person with a love of life. I have a deep love for all animals and am vegetarian. I make my own wine, kefir, kombucha and organic mushrooms. I practice yoga and love the outdoors (especially hiking and the water). I believe that the more people interact the more they learn. The more they learn the better person they become. I think it is hard to be a hateful or racist person if you have a full mind and open heart.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Hmmm, well, I don't think I am anything special. I am a very open-minder and optimistic person, who enjoys adventure and the quest to gain knowledge of all kinds. I think I am a warm person and I make friends easily. I enjoy life and sharing experiences. I don't really see anything as bad, just different. In all the "bad" things that have happened to me, I feel they have been there to teach me something. I always walk away from experiences with a better knowledge of who I am.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

In my travels around Europe I have been able to connect with several CS members and surfed with a few. Those were fun experiences bc all the people were so warm and inviting. They were very helpful in teaching me about local current events, discussing the differences and similarities of our cultures, introducing me to other locals, helping me plan the next leg of my trip and even suggesting or taking me to some really interesting locations I may never have seen on my own. I think they helped make my trip more memorable, and for that I will be eternally grateful.

Interests

Most spontaneous experience was when I was traveling in the US and was caught in a sudden blizzard and all the roads were closed down. Met some really nice people at a gas station who had a 4 wheel drive truck with chains who invited me to spend the night at their house. We ended up cooking and drinking and had a great time with their family and a couple neighbors. It was great fun. They were so kind and I never forgot their generosity.

• animals
• dogs
• arts
• books
• singing
• beauty
• cooking
• wine
• coffee
• vegetarian
• yoga
• drinking
• traveling
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• animation
• tourism

Music, Movies, and Books

I love almost all music and art.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I have lived in 13 states and have driven across the US 4 or 5 times. I am amazed by the natural beauty and diversity of the land and people. As a photographer I have taken some incredible shots and am always looking for the beauty in my surroundings.As far as something I have done that I am proud of... Well, I used to be a very competitive bicyclist and several years ago I participated in a 1-day endurance ride that took me from Illinois, all the way across Indiana and into Ohio. It was incredible. I met great people and learned a lot about myself. For instance, I was doing the ride alone and was a bit afraid of having something happen to me. I was also intimidated by the length of the race (163 miles) and the maximum number of hours we were given to complete it. In the end I met some great people on the ride. We finished with a good time and I was proud that I was able to accomplish something that seemed to be so daunting and outside of my comfort zone.

Teach, Learn, Share

I teach art and love to share my passion. My background is quite diverse and I love to learn, so sometimes I am able to pick up and/or impart some information that may be of interest. I also love to cook ethnic foods, and find that to be a fun activity to do with friends, old and new. As an outdoorsy person, I enjoy sharing water and hiking activities with others. I love to learn about other cultures and encourage people to share information about their lives in their home country. Talking, cooking, singing, etc. are great ways to share.When I travel I like to hang out with some friendly locals so I can get a better experience of the location. I am not really into seeing things with a tour group. In my opinion, I can usually see those things better in a movie or in pictures. What drives me in my world experience is to become more exposed to other people and the way they REALLY live. Oh, and if dogs are involved, even better.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States