I've done a bit of surfing and hosting. These days I'm on the fence - do I want to settle down and become more of a "host" or spend another year or two on the surfing side? Comfort vs. exploration.

Fun facts: I'm left handed. I have webbed toes (like Stalin and Dan Akroyd). I was one of Yo La Tengo's first friends on Myspace, so spent a short time in their "top friends" list. I know the astrological sun signs of quite a few celebrities and Harry Potter characters.

I've got a lot of normal stuff about me, too.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

It started with a trip to get a visa in Chicago. My travel buddy recommended Couchsurfing as opposed to a hostel, so we gave it a go! It's been a great experience so far. I haven't been as active lately - I'm not traveling much, and I don't have an ideal situation for accepting visitors, but I'm happy to oblige if it seems like it'll work out. I love learning about different aspects of life and all of its unique facets that depend on culture. I learn by traveling or meeting travelers.

Interests

Learning, Philosophy, Art, Gender Studies, Environmentalism, Health, Dancing, Food, Cooking, Sewing, Farming, Linguistics, Astrology, Traveling, People, Animals, Anthropology, Culture, Walking, Living, Breathing.

• animals
• arts
• culture
• singing
• performing arts
• concerts
• festivals
• dancing
• dining
• cooking
• baking
• vegetarian
• yoga
• working out
• walking
• crafts
• traveling
• drawing
• music
• guitar
• surfing
• anthropology
• art history
• gender studies
• history
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: The Beginners, The Future, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Amelie, Breathless, I Heart Huckabees, Me and You and Everyone We Know, Before Sunrise/Sunset/Midnight

Music: Velvet Underground, Animal Collective, Bob Dylan, Cocorosie, Billie Holiday, Mulatu Astatke, Amadou et Miriam, David Bowie, Fiona Apple, St. Vincent, Patrick Watson, Tune-Yards, Paul Simon

Books: Siddartha, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Nine Stories, and, yes, Harry Potter.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I accidentally got drunk on a Sunday morning when I wanted to make pancakes but didn't have milk and replaced it with alcoholic egg nog, keeping in mind the notion that the alcohol will be cooked out. However, alcohol reductions occur at a low temperature after an extended period of time.
Pancakes cook quite quickly.
I started eating the pancakes, feeling overjoyed by my clever concoction of almond flour, cinnamon, egg, eggnog, (yummy ingredients, etc.)
Then I realized that I truly was overly-joyed. The pancakes were tasty and resourceful. But the real reason I felt so happy, I discovered, was that I was, indeed, drunk.

Going to see Amadou and Mariam live at a music festival in Angouleme, France. The next day they were on the same train, and I shook Amadou's hand and told him (in French) what a marvelous performance it was. They were the most energetic, fun show I've ever seen. And I was able to see it thanks to the generosity of a couch host - there were no late night trains from Angouleme!

Teach, Learn, Share

Whatever might be happening these days! Yoga, food and cooking and baking, art history, philosophy, crafts, sewing, music, singing, languages (well, French, mostly... I've dabbled in others but none have stuck).

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can cook some pretty yummy vegetarian (and pescatarian) dishes. I love to draw, and can make some pretty neat things that are both abstract and realistic. If you want a picture of you, I can draw a picture of you. Some turn out better than others. I sing, too, so if I have my guitar while traveling, I'll try to fight my nerves well enough for an intimate concert with hospitable strangers.

I'm into yoga, meditation, chakras, astrology. Not an expert, but as much knowledge as a slightly obsessive person might accumulate. Happy to share any experience or ideas regarding those - leading a meditation or yoga session.

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, United States