Hey! I am a San Francisco native now living in Warsaw. Two years ago I quit my job as a software developer to travel the world, externally and internally. These years have brought me to living in: Joshua Tree, CA, rock climbing and making art; Yosemite, CA, working as a professional vegan/vegetarian chef; Nepal, living in an ashram studying yoga and volunteering in natural building and permaculture; Colorado, studying Tibetan Buddhism and working as a chef; and now Warsaw, where I live happily with my partner and two cats!

There is little I love more than exploring the world, experiencing cultures (especially food, music, and art), and learning more about myself and the world as I go. I rarely say no to an opportunity for a new experience, and I am most at peace surrounded by nature with watercolors and a good book :)

I am a certified yoga instructor, daily meditator, and have years of experience as a chef cooking vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, sugar-free, etc etc-free food (love adapting to providing for different dietary restrictions and making lots of people happy with food we've made!) I am also a software developer, particularly interested in working with non-profits and small businesses, as well as creating digital multimedia art, exploring the overlap between technology and spirituality.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

There is something so magical about sharing a day or a few with someone I meet traveling – the bonds I've formed have this really special quality, supported by shared experience and deep openness. To be able to meet each other just how we are, right now, in this very moment, sharing and celebrating our experiences, stories, and spaces, is such an amazing thing - and Couchsurfing helps make this happen!

Interests

Hiking, backpacking, camping – I've spent more than half of my summers living in and exploring Yosemite National Park, and am very passionate about ecology, preservation, eco-spirituality, and our identities and relationships with nature and the natural world.

Yoga - I lived and studied yoga in Shiva Yog ashram in Bhaktapur, Nepal for three months, and love taking what I've learned and sharing it with others, as well as within my own daily personal practice.

Spirituality - I am a practicing Buddhist with a deep interest in mysticism, Hinduism, Judaism, and secular spirituality, especially how ancient traditions emerge, adapt, and support us in our modern cultures.

Food - food is love, food is sacred. I am deeply passionate about holistic nutrition, having studied Ayurveda and other modern dietary restrictions/choices, and cooking professionally for 100+ people with many dietary preferences. I love love love cooking for+with others, experimenting with new flavors and exploring foods from different cultures.

Technology - how does technology support spiritual connection, not take away from it? How can technologies like virtual reality and artificial intelligence be conducive to a more intimately connected, vibrant sense of being, both on an individual level and as communities? How can technology be used to impact those who are most in need of aid, and be most accessible?

• cooking
• yoga
• meditation
• chess
• traveling
• music
• live music
• hiking
• backpacking
• camping
• spirituality
• buddhism
• watercolor
• multimedia art

Music, Movies, and Books

Currently reading: "World as Lover, World as Self" - Joanna Macy

(only listing absolute favorites, as these lists can go on and on...)
Poetry: Ranier Maria Rilke, Mary Oliver, Walt Whitman...
Novels: Gabriel Garcia Marquez, John Steinbeck, Ursula K. Le Guin, Ray Bradbury.
Spirituality: Jack Kornfield, Sharon Salzberg, Alan Watts.

Music and film I could talk about for hours and hours - let's listen and share together :)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Ridden an ostrich in South Africa 🐦🐣

Teach, Learn, Share

Very happy to teach yoga and meditation, and discuss philosophy and spirituality.

I love cooking with and for others. I'm always looking to learn more recipes, flavors, and create some delicious combinations.

Exchanging and creating music – I casually play finger piano (mbira) and am always up to jam, and I am learning music production and am always looking to learn from others.

I want to learn your relationship to your space, your areas, your communities, your self!

What I Can Share with Hosts

I really really love making banana bread. So I will 100% share this passion with you.

And the boring stuff...stories, laughs, thoughts, perspectives, food, appreciation, compassion!

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Mexico, Nepal, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand

Countries I’ve Lived In

Nepal, Poland, Sweden, United States