I'm Emily! These 'about me' sections usually become a long list of stuff I like to do. I grew up in the US and moved around a lot between a few states (California, Colorado, and Oregon). I got the traveling bug when I went on a cross-country road trip with my grandparents when I was eleven. I haven't done nearly as much as I'd like, even now years later, but I love seeing and exploring new places, their history and culture. I like meeting new people, even though I tend to be quiet at first. I love hearing their stories and sharing mine, too.

I love writing--fiction, creative nonfiction, blogs, whatever! Language has power. I enjoy reading, too, and can always get lost in a bookstore. I love listening to music--finding new artists, seeing bands live, getting obsessed with a new album, making playlists that fit my mood. I don't play any instruments, but my Spotify is always open on my computer or phone.

During all of it, I try to live for something bigger than myself--love, God, the Tao, the Force, whatever you want to call it. We're all a part of something and deeply connected, and traveling is a great way to truly see that! This world is too awesome not to explore it, and life is too incredible not to enjoy it.

My boyfriend Ryan often travels with me. He's from the US, and we live in Oregon together.
http://www.couchsurfing.com/people/ryan-loveall

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm hoping to build up our experience and meet lots of cool people. My boyfriend and I are not currently hosting because our place is too small and our schedule is too erratic, but usually down to meet up!

Interests

• writing
• books
• movies
• reading
• traveling
• music

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Too many amazing bands and artists to count! I listen to a wide spectrum ranging from pop (Lorde, Lana del Rey) to singer songwriter stuff (Angel Olsen, Agnes Obel) to to electropop (Marina and the Diamonds, ODESZA) to good ole indie classics (Beirut, Bon Iver, Sufan Stevens, Typhoon, Florence and the Machine).

Books/Authors: Random assortment of stuff, mostly YA or fantasy with some outlier books that stuck with me. Game of Thrones, The Book Thief, 1984, The Things They Carried, Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, Rob Bell, Maggie Stiefvater, CS Lewis.

Movies: Life is Beautiful, Clue, The Goonies, the Princess Bride, Indiana Jones. I love the work of Quentin Tarantino, Christopher Nolan, and Wes Anderson.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I've written and published a whole fantasy trilogy!

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can make you some good old-fashioned American pancakes! Syrup is hard to find in many other countries, but they're great with fruit or whipped cream.

I can help you with English. I have my Teaching English as a Foreign Language certificate and lots of experience teaching it.

Countries I’ve Visited

France, Italy, Marshall Islands, Morocco, Netherlands, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Zambia

Countries I’ve Lived In

Spain, United States