My mission is to visit every country before I die learning languages and meeting locals along the way.

I'm an American-born adventurer currently living in Ecuador, my eighth country to call home. I have been a concert pianist, French art and antiques dealer, upholsterer, foreign language teacher, and exchange program coordinator. Now I serve my country abroad.

Spending half of my adult life as an expat has meant I have had the opportunity to make connections with people all over the world. It also means I have to live far from the people I love. Currently, my husband lives nearly 10,000 km away in France. But he and I manage to see each other every two months and travel extensively together.

I have visited more than 50 countries to date, almost always staying with local hosts. I consider myself an open-minded extrovert so I get along well with just about anyone. I do not smoke and don'€™t do recreational drugs at all. I do however enjoy a drink or two in the evenings. I provide my own food while staying with a host and expect the same from guests. And finally, I aim to show respect for the people I'm staying with-- their personal space, their home, and their belongings.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I have hosted dozens of guests in my home and have stayed with many hosts over the years, several times through the couchsurfing platform. I couchsurf because I believe the experience offers a unique insight into a country's history, culture, and people. I am convinced the cultural exchange promotes peace and mutual understanding.

Interests

My passions are traveling, nature, (classical) music, painting, art museums, learning foreign languages, diplomacy, and getting to know foreign cultures.

• animals
• dogs
• arts
• culture
• design
• interior design
• lgbt rights
• environment
• dining
• cooking
• wine
• politics
• technology
• traveling
• music
• classical music
• piano
• hiking
• history
• international relations
• languages
• science
• rivers
• mountains
• nature
• social justice
• cuisine
• foodie
• diplomacy
• international politics
• lgbt friendly

Music, Movies, and Books

MUSIC: I listen to everything from Classical to Funk, Jazz to Blues, Folk to World Music. I actually collect music from around the world. During my travels, I like to get a few tracks of the "best" music from the country I'm visiting.

MOVIES: I like foreign films and documentaries, but I also watch Hollywood stuff.

BOOKS: My favorites are foreign language grammar books and cook books, but I also enjoy reading about international politics.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

During my travels, I have climbed inside an active volcano, been hypnotized by gypsies, lived with a Russian mafia family, hiked the Himalayas, helped build an orphanage in Honduras, and hung out with a family of penguins in Chile.

Teach, Learn, Share

I know a lot about music theory, grammar, upholstery, art, cooking, and classical music. I don't know much about science. I still want to learn more about different languages and international politics.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I'm also a foodie and a pretty serious cook, so I would be delighted to cook dinner during my stay with you or as a host. I love to have conversations about politics, the environment, technology, current events, and cultural differences. Basically, I try to solve the world's problems over a good meal and a glass of wine.

Countries I’ve Visited

Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, India, Israel, Italy, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mexico, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Poland, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State

Countries I’ve Lived In

Ecuador, France, Georgia, Hungary, India, Italy, Russian Federation, United States