Hello! I'm Jaime, and I can best be described as an adventurer and explorer! I get restless easily, so I need to entertain myself with new places to see, new things to do, new restaurants to try, etc. I grew up in suburban Long Island, NY near the southern shore. I left for college in Vermont and lived there on and off since 2006. I left for the ski season in Utah and Wyoming. I left to study in Spain and Italy. I left for work in San Francisco. And I also left to backpack SE Asia. When I was in Vermont, I applied my business degree in the financial world. I worked 5 years at an investment management firm and 1 year at a wealth management firm. (I'd be happy to explain the difference when we meet!) I enjoy playing in the mountains, reading historical fiction/non-fiction, watching movies on Netflix, eating Asian food, and dreaming about my next series of adventures

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

My best memories in places I've visited around the world have been when I stayed with a local resident or been given informal tours by local residents - either people I met briefly on my travels and reconnected with later or friends of friends. For example, in Rotterdam, the Hague, and Amsterdam - in Istanbul - in Paris and Nice - in Brussels - in Vienna - in Berlin - in Turin and Rome. I have wonderful stories from stays in these cities. I'm on couch-surfing because I want to be able to recreate these experiences in places where I don't have any contacts. These types of interactions are always rewarding in that it opens my mind to new ideas. I can't tell which moments created the person I am today, but I know each one played a part in doing so! And I hope I have the ability to share the same feeling with those I meet.

Interests

• cooking
• reading
• cycling
• hiking
• scuba diving
• skiing
• watching movies

Music, Movies, and Books

I love listening to live Bluegrass, especially over brunch with a Bloody Mary. I also love live Jazz, especially the sound of the trumpet. For a night of booty shaking dancing, I prefer a Hip-Hop DJ who doesn't change the song too fast. I also appreciate electronic music shows under the right circumstances.
I love watching movies on Netflix or attending a matinee at the theatre, or even splurging for those comfy reclining chairs! My favorite movies are the Before Sunrise series (including Before Sunset and Before Midnight), Vicky Cristina Barcelona, and Eat Pray Love.
I love Lonely Planet travel guides. I still regret leaving my SE Asia one (my travel bible) in the Philippines after 9 months in order to reduce the weight of my pack. I read Ayn Rand right after college and was deeply impacted at the time. I went through a Dan Brown phase. I enjoyed the Hunger Games, Fifty Shades of Grey, the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series. The Alchemist is the only book I've ever read more than once. I also enjoy reading finance and business related books about the markets or entrepreneurs.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Scuba-diving in Iceland.

Teach, Learn, Share

I have a Certificate in Investment Performance Measurement which is completely irrelevant to anyone outside of finance and even many people within finance. I also have a Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language which I put to the test for several months in Rome. I'm not as good at teaching as I am at learning. I love asking questions about things I don't know. I will usually ask until I've created a clear, mentally visual image in my mind.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I'm very happy to share a walk, bike, or hike together. Anything in the outdoors will be nice. I can also share conversations over an afternoon coffee or evening espresso martini.

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Georgia, Gibraltar, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Laos, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Myanmar, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Singapore, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, Vatican City State, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, United States