I'm well known for my catchphrase, "I love everything." I live life as a quest for ultimate happiness, whatever that is. At this point in my life, it means embracing adventure, learning something every chance I get, and forgetting what it means to have a comfort zone.

Part of that is travel; part of it is my blog!: erineaustin.org

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

In 2013, I spent five months living in and traveling around New Zealand as part of a college study abroad program. Other than that, I've done very limited international traveling, so I'm aiming to get to Europe every year for the rest of my 20s.

For me, the idea of travel has always been a way to understand and embrace a place's culture and cultural significance. It's about the feeling you get in that place - the way of life that . I think couchsurfing creates an amazing way to do that, as it facilitates an introduction to the heart of a culture: its people!

Interests

I love my dog, a five-year-old rescue mutt! The only bad thing about traveling is that he usually doesn't get to come with me!

Some other things that interest me:
- the flaws of the American health care system
- the way heteronormativity impacts society (and how society impacts heteronormativity)
- menstrual sanitation in underdeveloped countries
- dog breed specific legislation (and all the reasons it's wrong)

• dogs
• culture
• traveling
• blogging
• study abroad

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: I like anything that can be classified in the realms of indie folk and pop punk, plus anything that falls on a spectrum between those two.

Books: I love everything. My favorites are Harry Potter, The Bell Jar, and Lord of the Flies. I like fiction and nonfiction, novels and short stories. I can read anything and find something good in it.

Movies, Top Five: Matilda, Chicago, Big Fish, Secondhand Lions, 10 Things I Hate About You. Honorable Mention: Space Jam.
TV: Prison Break, Parks & Recreation, The Office, Lost, Sons of Anarchy, Masterchef, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Donated my hair (four times!) to organizations that make wigs for people who have lost their hair to cancer and other diseases.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Fiji, Mexico, New Zealand

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States