Hey, you! I'm studying abroad in Rennes, France this year and trying to get a sense of the world outside my small town in Virginia, USA. I'm interested in many things, an expert on very few, and opposed to near nothing. Though I'm at heart an introvert and very comfortable alone, a good conversation seems like one of the world's kindest gifts, and I'm always looking for people to share it with. I'm fluent in English and nearly there with French, but all languages are beautiful in their own right and worth some time learning.

****update: I've been home now for over a year, now at Emory University in ATL.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

People are more interesting than lonely hotel rooms, and I can't learn about a culture reading hotel-provided brochures. Learning and sharing are fundamental interactions, and I'm just looking to make my world a little bigger.

Interests

I love music (playing/listening), good teachers, eating, making food, making art, making other things, dancing, hiking, reading, writing, and a good cup of tea when it's raining. I'm interested in interesting people, too.

• arts
• culture
• writing
• dancing
• dining
• running
• reading
• music
• hiking
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

The 60s/70s have my heart -- I was raised on James Taylor, Simon & Garfunkel, and Kenny Loggins, but I'll listen to anything if in good company. I wish I knew more about movies or remembered those that I've seen. My favorite books include "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath and Albert Camus' "L'Etranger" (ok, yes, fairly angsty) and I generally believe that books are better when they're paper.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I've taken some time to sit on the Chain Bridge in Budapest just to watch others around me be amazed. It was a damned beautiful moment, and I felt like I needed no destinations. Sitting isn't in mundane in a world that demands that we always be running to questionable ends.

Teach, Learn, Share

What else is there to do in life? These three ideas can be linked to every action, and I'm inspired to understand what it means to have the three in balance.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I've been living with a host family for the last 6 months (since September 2014), and I'm learning to work in a new family dynamic. I feel that I now have a better understanding of my own country (the USA) and another culture's (France), as well as better means to comprehend the reasons why people do what they do, at least from a Western standpoint.
I like to think I'm thoughtful, if not in tune with my thoughts, and willing to help/listen/respond. Life amazes me, and I want to share this joy and find it nuances in others!

Countries I’ve Visited

Aruba, Dominica, France, Hungary, Italy, Morocco, Spain, Turks and Caicos Islands

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, United States