**September 2017 TRAVELING:
Montenegro, Serbia. Back to Istanbul, Karadeniz, Tbilisi, Baku.

CURRENT MISSION

Enjoy the unexpected.

BIO--
I've spent a lot of time traveling. It's informed pretty much everything I do and care about, and is also the reason why I'm studying International Relations and always learning foreign languages. I grew up in a small town in the Northwest corner of the United States, and because of that I always love small communities, getting to know the people around me, and the kind of friendliness and hospitality that comes naturally in such places. I try to recreate that, wherever I am in the world.

As for my character: I'm a happy go lucky sort of person. I eat everything with gusto (Central Asia gave me a real taste for grilled sheep fat), and having grown up in a French restaurant, I can and do cook quite well. I am one of the first people to start dancing at a party, or jump in the ocean. But I'm incredibly relaxed when it comes to travel, because I'd rather spend time with people and get to know what's really special from their perspective, rather than imposing my own agenda. So if my bus happens to break down in the middle of the desert/night/rainforest I will not be particularly bothered.

When I'm not hanging out in some Azerbaijani tea garden, I make my home in eclectic city of Portland, Oregon. That's where I study, work, bicycle a lot, have dinner parties, go out dancing, make new friends, and try to convince people to come visit. If you catch me at the right time, you can visit too!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

By keeping it up! Being a friendly, considerate guest and traveler. Preaching the goodness of community and friends and expanding one's borders.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I have met so many lovely people through CS, and made friends which continue to be part of my life years later. I have been unbelievably cared for as a traveler, and done my best to provide a great time to those that visit me.

The second day after I moved to Portland I went to a CS meetup and was immediately welcomed by a wonderful group people who, like me, were up for anything and everything. While half the time my couchsurfing is a spontaneous experience, negotiated by pure chance rather than the internet, the rest of the time I am so grateful this interface exists for making connections which otherwise never would be.

Interests

Sitting by a river drinking tea
Getting lost in a new city
Music festivals
Learning languages
Walking in the mountains
Dancing
Writing and reading

• arts
• culture
• writing
• photography
• dancing
• dining
• cooking
• running
• partying
• politics
• traveling
• music
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• swimming
• anthropology
• languages
• rivers

Music, Movies, and Books

I have pretty eclectic music tastes. For example a regular day-- I listen to BBC in the morning, listen to some Spanish pop on my way to school, listen to hip hop or Tuareg blues on the way back (or if it's raining, honkytonk), in the kitchen I like Cajun classics, sometimes Kuduro and P Square when I'm bicycling. Turkish rap is also pretty fun. I love live music and try to make it to make it to lots of shows and also convince my musician friends to serenade me.
I always read a lot of books, generally nonfiction regarding my studies and travels. But some comedic fiction is great to balance the heavy stuff.
I never have much time for movies, though I love them. Lately I've just been watching Columbian and Turkish telenovelas for the cheesy drama and the slang.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

That one time my friends took me to a yayla in the top of the mountains in the Black Sea and all we had to eat was a goat for four days.

What I Can Share with Hosts

When I do CS I genuinely do it because I'd like to get to know you, your country, etc. As a guest I am happy to share my unique perspective, my stories, my respect for your time and your home.

Countries I’ve Visited

Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Ecuador, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Montenegro, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan

Countries I’ve Lived In

Azerbaijan, Portugal, Turkey, United States