CURRENT MISSION: bridging the gap between the "you" and the "i" by nurturing my relationship with what is outside of me as much as I nurture what is inside of me through full engagement with the external and internal worlds. That is the direction I aim for at least.

ABOUT ME :

Life long learner, though usually I do language-based work (ie consulting, teaching, poetry, etc.)

Gemini: watch out! I can be very playful, but at other times truly enjoy deep, meaningful conversations.

I'm originally from Detroit. I've been doing teaching-artist work for a couple of years now and before that taught English abroad with the JET programme for three years. I also moonlight as a poet and a literacy tutor.

I'm verbally oriented. I love language (so I can talk a lot) and cultures. I feel most at home in internationally diverse communities. I also like meeting people. All these interests combined make travel a good hobby. I love learning, enjoy deep and imaginative conversations, and am constantly seeking personal growth.

PHILOSOPHY: Personal growth & service to others

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I've been hosting and surfing off and on for a couple of years now.

I like meeting people when I travel and I like the dream of couchsurfing as a fitting place to re-think society. What if every person we met were a fellow traveler, a welcoming host, a welcome guest? :)

Interests

I poetry.
I like the arts and sciences.
I grew up urban so I'm not an expertise of the outdoors but I enjoy trees, bodies of water, and hiking. I have always lived near a river.

Other interests:
Stories, music, picture books, YA fiction, animals,
health/nutrition, biology/wildlife, it's all cool
technology, music, art, travel, critical thinking, discussions aimed at exploration, growth and learning, stories stories stories...

• animals
• wildlife
• arts
• books
• poetry
• technology
• traveling
• socializing
• music
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• surfing
• biology
• teaching

Music, Movies, and Books

this is hard

music: I guess rock, jazz, classical too; sometimes catchy pop music. ballads folk and bluegrass.

books: I always enjoy picture books, YA fiction, multicultural themed bildungsromans, literature - though am mostly familiar with American I love hearing about authors and great works from other countries. I don't read sci-fi much but I enjoy talking about it.

movies - animated films; subtitled-international films; comedies; documentaries; superhero; some sci-fi.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

The everyday things amaze me easily, like toddlers recognizing me, and finding tiny snails in my sink and seeing a bamboo forest for the first time, and a deep royal blue on anything: umbrella, tile roof, a wall that reads "post no bills here"

But I think I usually just tell people I've climbed Mt. Fuji three times.

Teach, Learn, Share

I'm more of a thinker, so I feel like conversation on life-questions is what I share best. I love to encourage curiosity and creativity, and flexibility of thought, embracing contradictions and finding answers within ourselves.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Chile

Countries I’ve Lived In

Japan, United States