My friends call me an adventurer (others use the word ‘crazy’) because I always aim to live life to the fullest. I’m a fun-loving, down-to-earth biochemist turned sewist. My first passion was medicine, specifically preclinical development in microbiology and infectious disease. I worked for the Stanford Research Institute for 2 years doing HIV/AIDS research, and now live in Atlanta working for the CDC. I quickly realized that although I’m ridiculously passionate about the ID field in general, I needed to act on my creativity, and the freedom to move around. I also work with a quilting software company as a Product Development Manager that allows me to not only work in an incredible industry, but to also devote time to volunteering, traveling, and gaining a better sense of self. I value experiences and relationships over tangibles, have an ongoing love affair with food, and try to cook often. I also play piano, cello, and violin.

Words to live by:

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
– Mark Twain

"Love is a fruit in season at all times, and within reach of every hand." - Mother Teresa

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I travel for the freedom. The ability to do what I want whenever I want to or to simply be able to do nothing at all. I love getting out of bed everyday knowing that the entire day is mine. I travel for the food; for the ability to discover things my tastebuds have never known, and to taste weird and wonderful things that I have no access to at home. I travel for the adventure of it all. There’s something about not knowing what you’re going to discover in the near future that is exhilarating. I travel to challenge myself, to understand the world better, to meet new people. I travel to feel alive, and to find happiness. With travel the potential for discovery and learning is seemingly infinite. In the best possible way, you are forced to reorient your priorities, expand your perspective, and evolve beyond what is comfortable into something better, something more. I believe that the people you meet while traveling are what make it the rich, vibrant experience that it is. They are what shape the memories from our travels, more so than the locations themselves. They shine lights on our ignorance, and teach us about ourselves. I've already made so many incredible friendships through Couchsurfing, and find it an invaluable tool for traveling.

Music, Movies, and Books

I have an eclectic taste in music. I enjoy listening to the occasional podcast as well.

You can check out my Spotify profile here if you're interested. https://open.spotify.com/user/1247392879

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Adventures: Swimming with sharks in French Polynesia, cave-tubing in Belize, taking helicopter rides in Kauai, biking through Manhattan, & sky diving in Virginia.

Food: Powered sugar beignets in New Orleans, ciders in London, shaved ice in Maui, pizza and gelato in Rome, and bagels and pastrami in New York most definitely cured my appetite.

Experience: Watching the sunrise at the top of Masada in Israel,  being blinded by neon lights in Vegas, riding a camel in the Negev Desert, and feeling complete solitude underneath a bed of stars.

Accomplishments: Featured as an up and coming artisan in Maxim magazine, helped fund solar integrations into several small scale farms in Kenya in order to create jobs, reduce energy costs, and environmental impact via Kiva.

Teach, Learn, Share

Good conversation & a listening ear. I can also teach you to sew, speak some french, or play the piano for you.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Sharing food is the best kind of sharing in my opinion, so I would love to cook you a meal, share travel stories and listen to your story.

Countries I’ve Visited

Anguilla, Bahamas, Belize, Benin, France, Ghana, Greece, India, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Togo, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States