Hello!

My name is Erin. I'm currently traveling outside of the US with my boyfriend Spencer. Our plan is to explore Europe for the next few months. We both recently graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia, myself with a degree in biomedical engineering and Spencer with a degree in economics. We are both in our early 20's, and have a wide range of interests.

Spencer and I are active people, who enjoy hiking, cycling, and any other activities that provide us the opportunity to explore outdoors. We also love meeting people, and feel that we can get along with almost anybody. We are kind and courteous guests, who always strive to leave places better than we found them (whether that place be a kitchen, or a hiking path).

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Through our travels we have discovered that hostels are a great place to meet other travelers, but they don't typically introduce us to local people in the areas we visit. Because of this, our first major motivation for Couchsurfing is to travel in a way that allows us to get to know people who actually live in the places we visit.

Our second major reason for Couchsurfing is (surprise!) to save money. Spencer and I are traveling on savings we put aside for this trip over the last few years. After traveling for a month, we realized that we spend nearly half of our daily budget on accommodation. We have managed to save some money by using Airbnb, and we enjoy the homey feeling of these places, but we've found that we meet less people this way.

As a final reason, Spencer and I are interested in hosting Couchsurfers someday. We would like to give it a try now, so that we can see what makes for a good experience and replicate that enjoyment for our own guests when we have the opportunity.

Interests

Erin:
-Shows and concerts
-Dancing (not professionally, and not well--just for fun)
-Science
-Anything outside--hiking, biking, etc.
-Yoga

Spencer:
-Outdoor sports (particularly hiking, cycling, kayaking, and rock climbing)
-Reading, particularly Science fiction/fantasy and books about economics
-Poetry, both reading and writing.
-Cycling and motorcycling
-Music and films

• animals
• pets
• writing
• books
• poetry
• concerts
• dancing
• cooking
• recipes
• exercise
• yoga
• politics
• movies
• reading
• traveling
• socializing
• music
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• hiking
• kayaking
• sports
• rock climbing
• american football
• soccer
• economics
• teaching
• engineering
• history
• mathematics
• science

Music, Movies, and Books

Erin:
Music - Fleet Foxes, Local Natives, the Beatles, Kendrick, Tame Impala, Sufjan Stevens, Alt-J, Slightly Stoopid, Bon Iver, more.
Movies - Pan's Labyrinth, O Brother Where Art Thou?, Legally Blonde, Donnie Darko
Books - Breakfast of Champions, Not That Kind of Girl, The Hobbit, Sirens of Titan, Acid Dreams

Spencer:
Music - I love many types of music, but my predominant genres are Folk and Hip Hop. Some of my favorite bands/musicians include Simon and Garfunkle, Kanye, Beirut, Outkast, Kid Cudi, Bob Dylan, Neutral Milk Hotel and others.
Movies - Some of my favorites include The Fountain, American Beauty, the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, A River Runs Through It, and of course many others.
Books - The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Sword of Truth series, Schismatrix, Dune, Why We Can't Wait, The Autobiography of Malcolm X, and MANY others.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Erin - I climbed my first 14er (a mountain over 14000 feet above sea level) in Colorado this year on the 4th of July with my two best friends. Finally making it to the summit was one of the best feelings I've ever had.

Spencer - This year (2015) I had the chance to go the the 2015 Superbowl in Phoenix, Arizonawhen a close friend won an all expense paid trip. I got to see one of the most exciting Superbowls in recent years, from the 50 yard line (great seats, for those of you who are unfamiliar with American Football!).

Teach, Learn, Share

We are very interested in learning the history of the cities we're in. If you know anything about your city's history, we'd love to hear it.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Erin
-I love talking about anything science. If you're interested in or curious about anything from cells to prosthetics, I'll discuss it with you.
-I can also teach you some of the yoga I've learned over the past few years. My lesson won't be anything like an experienced teacher's, but I will happily try.
-I'll take care of any animals you have. If you have a busy day, I can take your pet on a walk, or just take it out with me for the day.

Spencer - As I've spent nearly my entire life to date deeply involved in academics, and enjoy talking about politics, economics, science, and math.
As for activities, I can share in a few ways. I'm pretty handy with a bike.--does yours have a problem? If so, I may be able to help! If you're interested, I can also teach you how to set up and use a Slackline (a balancing sport that is fantastic exercise for the body and mind). If you're interested in rock climbing, I can teach you the basics of that sport as well, and would be happy to go on any climbing excursion. Lastly, I enjoy fixing things--if you need help fixing a thing, I'll give it an honest try.

Both-
We're pretty good cooks and would be happy to share recipes and cook with you! (A few of our favorites: lentil soup, chickpea-kale stew, and spinach artichoke dip).
We will go on any hike with you if you ask.

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Virgin Islands, British

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States