Keeping my eyes and ears open to new experiences. Maybe the thing I thought I didn’t need is exactly what I needed.

ABOUT ME

Grew up in California. I love to travel, play guitar, play tennis, hike, snowboard, and stay active. I've been to a bunch of different countries. Spent 6 months backpacking through South America; lived in Tanzania, Africa for 6 months (and I climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru!) and worked for the United Nations while I was there. I love Spain and Italy! Been to those countries on three different occasions. Been to various countries in Europe and am always looking to explore them some more.

PHILOSOPHY

Grip it and rip it.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I've stayed with fellow CSer's while traveling in Europe and South America, and now I am opening up my place in the Bay Area for travelers. Occasionally, I attend some CS events, but not very often because work or travel normally gets in the way.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Awesome. It's a great time. Some of my best traveling memories involve people I met through couchsurfing.

Interests

Playing guitar, tennis, hiking, backpacking, salsa dancing, SCUBA diving, reading, exploring the world.

• dancing
• salsa dancing
• education
• reading
• traveling
• guitar
• hiking
• backpacking
• scuba diving
• snowboarding
• rock climbing
• tennis
• teaching

Music, Movies, and Books

I'm not a very big fan of modern country music (old time country is cool). Otherwise I like pretty much any type of music. Love Enerst Hemingway novels, Russian authors and novels, biographies of Abraham Lincoln's life, Gabriel Garcia Marques, Milan Kundera, and currently reading a novel by Gyorgy Faludy.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Climbing Kilimanjaro was cool, but the most amazing thing I've done while traveling is help the Nepalese Youth Foundation. In 2008 I went to Nepal to do some hiking in the Annapurna region. I decided to raise money for this non-profit organization that gives street children in Nepal a chance to get an education and become something in life. The hiking was amazing, but the kids I met at this organization's school in Kathmandu were truly inspiring. I remember this intelligent, well-adjusted, enthusiastic 16-year old girl who never knew her mother, who's father committed suicide one month after she entered the school, with the most positive outlook on life, and who was looking forward to attending college in the UK on a scholarship she earned. She was but one of many children who had succeeded thanks to the efforts of the people at the NYF. It's very easy to become cynical and distant in this world, but helping these children - even if it was only by raising money - inspired me more than any amount of money I could have given them. It was the most worthwhile act I have ever done.

Teach, Learn, Share

Can someone please teach me how to speak Spanish?!

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Iran, Italy, Kenya, Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, Nepal, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Martin (French part), Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Tanzania, United States