CURRENT MISSION

"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page." -- St. Augustine

ABOUT ME

Majored in French in college and then-unwillingly left my comfortable Chicago lifestyle in 2004 to study abroad in Montpellier, France for a year. Totally changed my life and viewpoint of the world/traveling, and was from then on hooked.

Decided in 2008 to quit my boring 9-5 desk job and travel and job hunt in France for at least 2 months. An annoying airline ticket forced me to stay only for 40 days, but within those I traveled to 6 countries and surfed 5 couches, and made use of my Global Eurail train pass.

Ended up working in hotels in downtown Chicago for six years as a concierge. Got to use my French, met rad people, spread my love of the city with foreigners. It was awesome.

In 2012 I randomly came up with an idea for an invention that stemmed from my love of travel and maps, called SlapMap. Five years later after earning a utility patent, finding a mass manufacturer, etc, I launched it. It's a tough, lonely, expensive road, but I'm glad I'm doing it. As a fellow traveler I'm pretty sure you'll appreciate it! Check out slapmap.com.

My fiance Will got me to leave my dear Chicago in 2018 and I joined him in DC much to my dismay. I'm learning to love it, slowly. While my small business builds, and in order to make good money for now, I nanny for a lovely family (since I don't yet have my own children, I might as well get paid to hang with others')!

I'm quite obsessed with the French language, sarcasm, and gummy bears. At home in Chicago and now DC I, among many things, love yoga (especially of the handstand-y, arm balance-y type), enjoy new restaurants, and discovering and sharing new music.

PHILOSOPHY

there's a positive side to ANY situation as long as you open your eyes to the possibility

things happen for a reason

this, too, shall pass

我为什么加入 Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I'm an ever-grateful guest who can't wait to be able to 'pay back' to the community once I'm settled somewhere. My month in Europe was incredibly perfect regarding the CSers I befriended be it just from gatherings, thru other friends, or being their guest. I've been lucky to have been helped by so many kind-hearted people/couchsurfers when I've been met with not-so-great travel situations, and I'm forever grateful.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I first was introduced to the idea in 2006 when I surfed for the first time in Quebec and had a blast.
In 2008 I couchsurfed in Paris and then across 5 other nearby countries. I absolutely love the idea, the mentality, and the type of people who partake in the cause.

兴趣

• books
• dining
• yoga
• running
• traveling
• study abroad
• tourism

音乐、电影和书籍

that's for us to discuss...!

我做过的一件不可思议的事情

lost my passport in a train station in France on my way to Germany

5 hours later, had it returned to me

amazingly dumb, on my part....and amazingly lucky

我游览过的国家

Belgium, Canada, Croatia, France, Germany, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, United States

我居住过的国家

Canada, France, United States

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