CURRENT MISSION

Overcoming reverse culture shock now that I'm back in the States, working towards grad school, and trying not to spoil my Zam pup 🐕

ABOUT ME

- Cooking is how I de-stress after a long day at work. I love to try new foods; not for the shock factor, but to genuinely see what tastes good. I've come a long way from Hot Dog Soup (hot dogs + instant ramen = good childhood memories), but still love a good Tater Tot Pot Pie!
- Been a suburban farmer since 2001: chickens, blueberries, and fruit trees are our specialty. Still working on fighting off the squirrels though...
- Now the proud owner of a 401K and trying to learn more about index funds.
- I like to wander around new towns and find hilarious street art, comic book stores, and secret gardens. Slowly nurturing my street photography skills in the process.

Yes, I still use FB and have no idea what TikTok is... Happy to go out to a cool bar and have a fun conversation about sustainable agriculture. I also take selfies, please bear with me.

PHILOSOPHY

Have patience and be kind - it goes a long way. Seriously, the world will not end if your latte isn't ready in five minutes. Also, flexibility is key: things always go according to plan when you have a Plan B, C, and D!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I offered my hut in Zambia for two years but sadly no one (at least on CS) took me up on it. Right now I'm back living with my parents, but in the future I would love to be more involved as a host. And I am always willing to answer questions on the general CS wall! As a surfer, I try to be as helpful and flexible as my host needs and love to spend time learning more about their life and likes.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

- Had my first (official) couchsurfing experience in March 2013, where I couchsurfed my way around South Korea. It was the most amazing, inspiring experience I ever had and now I'm hooked on couchsurfing. I realized that coming home to a friend's house is so much better than coming back alone to a hostel. Through my hosts, I can really gain an understanding of what life is like and the places to be!
- Since then I haven't been as active a surfer/host, but as I start traveling again I would love to re-experience the wonderful time I had surfing and make more friends around the world.

Interests

I love to do outdoor things, but lately technology and lack of time have robbed me of this. That's why I make time for travel: often times, it how I get outside! Living in Zambia made me a cycling champ but since moving back to DC I haven't had the time (or a bike) to keep at it. I like a good hike or family adventure on the weekends. I love history and will spend hours at a museum if my family allows me. And for two years I was a high ropes instructor - probably the most fun I've every had while "working".

• cooking
• gardening
• news
• reading
• hiking
• snowboarding
• volleyball
• agriculture
• horseback riding
• museums
• roadtripping

Music, Movies, and Books

Truthfully, I don't know artists, movie titles, genres, or anything else very specific. But I love to read interesting things (newspapers, books, blogs, podcasts...), listen to music that moves me, and anything that makes me laugh (Santa Clarita Diet anyone?). Oh, and Agent Carter is pretty awesome.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I might have written three...
- Running around Costa Rica for three weeks in middle school. I lived like a local and ate all the beans & rice and tried to use the Spanish I had been non-studying for five years. It was the first time I saw what life was like outside of America and made me think about what else is out there.
- Then there is Shanghai: the home of my heart, something I still miss dearly. It was my first time living abroad and its where I made some of my best friends, who are still a big part of my life. Its where I learned snails can be delicious, hammer pants are amazing, and pollution sickness is real.
- Served in the Peace Corps in Zambia for 2 years. It seriously is the toughest job you will ever love. I would write more except it would become a novel. Happy to tell you all about it but only if you have a few hours to spare! Bonus: I speak Tumbuka but CS doesn't recognize it as a language :(

Teach, Learn, Share

Any photographers out there? Would love to learn some of your tips and tricks for improving my skills on both taking pictures and editing them.
Want to learn about composting and sustainable living? I'm not an expert but have some knowledge on a variety of exciting actions you can take to reduce your footprint. Bonus: I know random facts about bees, cornstarch "plastic", and methane-reducing grass :D

What I Can Share with Hosts

- great conversation: I have some pretty hilarious stories to share and I love to listen to where life has taken my hosts.
- amazing recipes: sweets, bread, curries, you name it! My favorite being a Curried Carrot Sweet Potato and Ginger soup.
- Ligretto, the greatest game ever (with Ticket to Ride a close second).
- small omiyage if that's something you are interested in!

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Cambodia, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Laos, Malawi, Mexico, Mozambique, Netherlands, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey

Countries I’ve Lived In

China, Japan, United States, Zambia