CURRENT MISSION

Live to not regret.

ABOUT ME

Smart, funny, hardworking, energetic, passionate. I can talk up a storm - or just listen for hours.
I have an insatiable appetite for knowledge. Hands-on and first-hand are always the best methods. I do love books though...
Pretty natural all around, try to stay healthy. You won't catch me with a cigarette, or even a drink. But that doesn't mean I don't enjoy myself - I definitely do!
I have loved being a teacher to inner-city students for a few years, but I am working on building my own small business now and tutor to pay the bills. Big, scary jump, but worth it so far.
Bottom line? I love life - even the "bad" because I learn so much from it.

PHILOSOPHY

I am a devout Christian. Not the stuffy, hypocritical kind. The kind who lives what she believes, messes up, admits it, and tries again. My beliefs are mine. They are what give me purpose and strength in a seriously crazy - yet simultaneously beautiful - life. I definitely will not push them on you, but won't stand to be attacked for them either. I feel like this is becoming more and more of a rarity, so if you're curious, I'm an open book. If not, well, there are plenty of other things we can talk about. :-)

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Hosting, surfing, promoting, and advice-giving.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Had the time of my life surfing couches (and beds and floors) in Europe during the summer of 2012. I traveled to clear a clouded head and heal a broken heart, and the amazing people and experiences I encountered through Couchsurfing were exactly what did the trick! It was so great that I couldn't wait to come back and host some of my own surfers and meet up with people in my area, locals and visitors alike. Each experience has been wonderful!

Interests

I love learning languages and meeting new people.
Learning words in a new language is always a thrill!

I like to garden, cook, spend time with friends, try new foods, read, write, photograph, tutor, teach, and of course, travel! I also like to be active and have now run two half marathons (both without training. Yikes!) Total blast!

Music, Movies, and Books

Books:
* The Bible, A Long Fatal Love Chase, Little Women, and anything else by Louisa May Alcott; Oh the Places You'll Go (and anything else by Dr. Seuss); Absolutely anything by Sor Juana

Movies: I love a good film in any language and practically any category. I really like good documentaries, although I realize each is made with a bias. These are only a few, in completely random order!
* Seres queridos; La misma luna; Recién Cazado; La lengua de las mariposas; Les femmes du 6ème étage; Paris 36; le papillon (The butterfly); Food Beware: The French Organic Revolution (Nos Enfants Nous Accuseront); La Buche; Le Fils de l'épicier (The Grocer's Son); La vie en rose; Avenue montaigne; Cinema Paradiso; La vita è bella (Life is Beauitful); La tigre e la neve (The tiger and the Snow); Return to Me; The Garden; Bella; Dr. Zhivago; Rocky; The Godfather: I and II; Fiddler on the Roof; Sound of Music; The King and I; Nell; A Knight's Tale; Under the Greenwood Tree; Empire Records; Pressure Cooker; The Italian Job; Julie & Julia

Seriously. these are just a few. I love good films as they are a way to travel vicariously around the block or the world!

Music: One word: eclectic. I tend to pick up CDs from my travels and even if I can't understand the words, I can appreciate the songs. Have you ever cried listening to a song you don't understand a word of because it was that good? Yeah...

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I helped to start a school for at risk, inner city adolescent females.
Seeing the stars over Lake Titicaca at night. I have never felt like the sky -or the rest of the world - was that close before.
Taking part in a "lamparata" in Southern Italy. The tradition, congeniality, passion, beauty, and sense of fun was overwhelming to the senses.
Making cheese! It wasn't the best, but tasted so good because I turned that jug of milk into mozzarella!

Teach, Learn, Share

Well, I can teach English and lots of school subjects. I can cook pretty well, but I'm self taught. I would love to learn more about cooking around the world. What else? I'm a good writer and editor so I can help you do that, not something I can teach but I'm pretty quick and creative.
Also, I have a lot of experience working with inner city youth in one of America's most dangerous cities, so if you happen to be interested in learning about how children in Baltimore are affected by drugs, gangs, violence, and abuse I can tell you. It's not all sad - they and their stories are pretty amazing!
Last but not least, I can share stories of my travels and the crazy situations I have experienced. My friends often tell me to write a book about it all, so if you've heard that too we could probably stay up all night swapping stories!

Countries I’ve Visited

Bahamas, Canada, France, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Peru, Spain, United States

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