CURRENT MISSION

My mission is simple. I want to see and connect. I want to hear your story and tell mine. I want to give what I can and take what you want to offer. Teach and learn.

ABOUT ME

Well. If you were a fly on my wall that could observe what I do when no one is watching (sounds creepier than it is), this is what you would find:

That I like to dance around my house. I have a habit of talking to myself, not in a one-person-conversation kind of way but more of a thinking-out-loud kind of way with the occasional laughter at my own jokes. You would notice that I like to book flights, clean my room and watch TED talks as a form of procrastination. You would also see that my guilty pleasure is watching sad, romantic tear-jerking movies and probably take note that I am a very ugly crier. I tend to zone out for long periods of time but I assure you it's because I'm lost in profound philosophical thought and not because I'm day dreaming about what I'm going to eat next.

On a more serious note, I'd like to think of myself as someone who's pretty certain about my values and maintaining them, although they do change because life happens. I prioritize treating others the way I want to be treated (like the good old proverb).

PHILOSOPHY

You know how certain songs take you back to a particular period in your life? My personal philosophy works similarly, it's a theme for a certain time in my life and it's ever-changing. Right now, my current theme is openness and story-telling. I like to challenge the concept of openness by pushing the boundaries of my own comfort. This can take the form of hanging out with someone I don't particularly like or trying something new that scares me. How open am I really and how much more open can I be? These are the things I'm testing. I think the most valuable way in which we exchange information is through personal story telling. I love crafting my story, especially via writing, and figuring out the best way to tell it so that it can benefit others but maintain honesty. The way we tell our stories determines how we connect with others. I'd like to tell mine in a way that allows me to connect with as many people as possible. And honestly, who doesn't love hearing a good story?

With that being said, listening is another theme in my life. I'm a psychology major--make of that what you will. I love getting a good feel for a person and learning what I can from their unique perspective and story. I'd like to think I'm pretty sensitive to people's intentions and personalities. I'm totally open to learning from perspectives that challenge me.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

At the moment, I can only surf and do not have a couch to offer because I am traveling. But when I return to The States, if I can host, I'm happy to and I'm more than happy to show travelers around in NYC.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Rookie.
Stories in the making--with your help!

Interests

EATING
Hiking
Movies
Climbing (a bit of mountaineering and a rookie rock climber)
Music (especially live)
Running: I've done a half marathon, looking to run a full one day! Wanna be my running buddy?
Dancing: Hip hop, Salsa, Bachata, Modern, Bhangra, breaking it down in the club, etc. Try me, let's have a dance off..
Camping
Traveling
EATING
Did I mention eating?

• writing
• books
• documentaries
• coloring
• dancing
• bachata
• marathon
• running
• clubbing
• flying
• movies
• traveling
• music
• hiking
• camping
• mountaineering
• rock climbing
• psychology

Music, Movies, and Books

Favorite movie: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Favorite book: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
Most Recent Music Obsession: Chet Faker

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I was chosen as one of nine climbers to be part of Expedition Denali—an initiative aimed at inspiring youth of color to explore wilderness places. We were the first African-American team to attempt a summit of the tallest peak in North America, Denali. Check out the documentary film trailer about the project! http://vimeo.com/102678492. I'm the chick with the nose ring in the blue!

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Chile, Czech Republic, France, Mexico, Spain

Countries I’ve Lived In

Italy, United States