CURRENT MISSION

To be part of something bigger. A drop in the ocean is nothing grand, but combine enough drops and you've got a tidal wave.

ABOUT ME

- I'm in love with language. I've dabbled in many, but haven't gotten enough real practice with any to be truly fluent thus far. I have studied French, Spanish, American Sign Language, and Mandarin.
- I believe in diversity and believe indigenous languages/religions/cultures should be protected. Instead of spending our efforts proselytizing our own beliefs and values, we should work to understand where others are coming from.
- I believe in slow travel. I'm not perfect, and from time to time I will end up on a plane. But over the years I've gotten better. One of my big goals was to do a long-term bike trip from Orlando to NYC [Edit: I made it! Such an adventure! - Now, for my next slow trip... perhaps by UNICYCLE???]. I want time to take in the sights and be surrounded by the beauty of the world, not flying above it.
- A conventional life is not the one for me. One of the best years I had was a year sleeping in the back of a Toyota pickup truck. At the moment, it's not possible for me to pull that off (tow trucks are rampant in college towns), but it's something I would definitely do again.

PHILOSOPHY

- I want to sparkle, and be *that* person, the one who spreads happiness to all who cross my path. I'm certainly not perfect, but it's worth striving for anyway.
- I believe in the power of individuals, for the combined efforts of people acting alone can become a collective movement and a force to be reckoned with.
- We all have "comfort zones," though they may vary from person to person. I believe in continuously pushing the limits and forcing myself to do things I am hesitant about in order to forever broaden my knowledge of myself and the world. It's also really empowering to overcome whatever fears you may have and not allow anxiety to hold you back.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I've lost count of all the awesome people we've hosted over the years, since I returned to Gainesville after my trip (I have 24 references, but have hosted many more people who forgot to leave a reference). I'm so glad to have the opportunity to meet such wonderful guests and pass along the kindnesses that have been shown to me over the years! I try to spread the word about CS whenever we can. Such a great network shouldn't be kept a secret!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I couchsurfed up to NYC on my bike trip, and it was amazing. Afterwards, I had a place of my own, so paid it forward as much as possible by and hosting other travelers as they journeyed through time & space. I haven't hosted as much recently due to my work schedule, but I do what I can.

Interests

- slow travel (one of my most memorable trips was a bicycle trip from Florida to New York!)
- linguistics and languages
- midnight romps at playgrounds
- cycling... and UNICYCLING!!
- circus arts (juggling, fire sticks, someday a slack line)

• juggling
• cycling
• teaching
• mathematics
• linguistics
• slackline
• circus
• biking
• bicycle touring
• bicycle
• slacklining
• cycle touring
• unicycle
• math
• acro yoga
• indoor climbing
• unicycling
• juggle
• nerdfighteria
• circus arts
• tubing
• unicycle hockey

Music, Movies, and Books

Books: Tales of a Female Nomad [a must-read for fellow CS-ers!], Ender's Game series, His Dark Materials trilogy, Sevenwaters trilogy, anything by Douglas Adams, Invisible Monsters (and pretty much any Pahlaniuk I've gotten my hands on), Blindness, A Brief History of Everything, 101 Philosophy Ideas You Really Need to Know, Sophie's World

Movies: Last year, I saw Twisted, by Starkid Productions. The full movie is available on YouTube, posted by Starkid, for free. If I could only watch ONE movie over and over again for the rest of my life, it would be this one.

But as for more mainstream (sort of) names: The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Man on Wire, Labyrinth, Mirror Mask, Guys and Dolls, Repo! The Genetic Opera, Tank Girl, any of the 80's Brat Pack classics, Moulin Rouge, The Princess Bride, Mating Habits of the Earthbound Human, Memento, most Edward Norton/Tim Curry films, and most musicals/movies that end with group dance scenes.

Music: Phillip Glass, Bo Burnham, Broadway & movie soundtracks (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Wicked, Hamilton, anything Disney), 80's pop.

Podcasts: Welcome to Night Vale, Alice Isn't Dead, Stuff You Should Know, Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Radiolab, Serial.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I was attacked by an octopus in the Mediterranean Sea. He thought my shoe (and the foot inside it, of course) was a fish! His head was probably the size of a grapefruit. Never thought I'd see something like that up close in shallow waters, I thought such sights were reserved for scuba divers only.

Teach, Learn, Share

I'm really a jack of all trades, master of none. My brain goes everywhere and I want to try to learn everything all at once, and as a result I end up expert at very little.

BUT
- I played the french horn for 8 years
- I know a ridiculous number of Rocky Horror call lines
- I can juggle 4 balls or 3 clubs
- I can slackline.
- I've taught 250+ people how to unicycle. It takes practice, but I'm really good at teaching theory & the basics to give you a good jumping off point if you decide it's something you want to put time into as you continue with your adventures.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can teach you how to juggle, or, if you already juggle, I can teach you a couple of ball tricks or how to juggle clubs or pass. Do you have a slackline? I would LOVE to go slacklining with you!!

Laughter is contagious, and I've got plenty to share.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Cambodia, Canada, England, France, India, Italy, Scotland, Spain, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State

Countries I’ve Lived In

China, United States

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