CURRENT MISSION

To share the amazing experiences I have had and use the first half of my life to inform the second half. To experience new opportunities for growth. To give back and pay forward the multitude of gifts I have received. To better live in gratitude.

ABOUT ME

I was a project leader for Katimavik and lived in Toronto for two years, then went on an adventure, a year of volunteering and traveling in 21 countries. I helped create a project for Katimavik in the last two years, working with aboriginal youth among other young adults and then traveled to Qatar to teach in a High School. Now, I'm in Northern BC teaching in a First Nations territory and enjoying the beautiful surroundings and fabulous culture.
I have a good group of friends who are social, artistic and fun to hang-around. Friends and family are extremely important to me. So is furthering my education in various ways. I believe that life is a fabulous adventure and the only way to live is to embrace all the opportunities that come my way.

PHILOSOPHY

Live life, explore and share everything - personal experiences, knowledge, resources, laughter, whatever fellow travelers need.

Hafiz - When the Violin

When
The violin
Can forgive the past

It starts singing.

When the violin can stop worrying
About the future

You will become
Such a drunk laughing nuisance

That God
Will then lean down
And start combing you into
His
Hair.

When the violin can forgive
Every wound caused by
Others

The heart starts
Singing.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I have met many CSers, in the last few years, through gatherings in Toronto as well as in my travels. Some of the coolest and wisest people I know are surfers and hosts! I started a journey of worldwide discovery and self-interpretation a few years back. I have seen over half of the 50 states, been all over BC, Canada and traveled through Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia, Central and South America and the Caribbean. Though I have many family members around the world, I like to stay with local city and country dwellers as much as possible so that I may gain a better understanding of the places and people I am visiting. I had fabulous couchsurfing experiences in Spain and Malaysia that strengthened further my faith in my fellow humans.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I enjoy sleeping over at my friends and family's houses. I have had many a couch experience both good and bruising, all over North America and in Europe and Southeast Asia. I'm excited to start visiting new couches in homes of soon-to-be friends. There is so much you can learn about a culture or place when you are immersed and not in a hotel or with a professional tour guide, (not that these are bad things). I look forward to sharing a story soon!

Interests

Toronto has almost anything to offer that you can think of. The trick to the city is to find all the great festivals, activities, opportunities that are free or cheap because there are a ton of them. I like movies, pubs, museums, galleries, horseback riding, working with and training animals, exploring new sites, travel, live music, great food, good beer and nice wines, dancing, the natural world and hiking, hands-on experience or work, altruistic projects and non-profit or environmental projects as well as farming or gardening. There are so many things to try and do, the list could go on...
I want to get into permaculture and completed a natural building internship at Panya Project in Northern Thailand spring of 2013, (boy time flies!).

• animals
• arts
• culture
• writing
• literature
• poetry
• singing
• festivals
• dancing
• education
• dining
• beer
• pub crawls
• gardening
• movies
• traveling
• painting
• music
• live music
• guitar
• violin
• outdoor activities
• equestrian
• hiking
• camping
• teaching
• tourism
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

A sampling of everything. I particularly like world music, folk, rock, bluegrass and alternative as well as anything live. I love to read. Some recent reads include "Beauty Tips From Moose Jaw", "Beatrice and Virgil", "Through Black Spruce", "Late Nights on Air", "Indian Horse", and "The Birth House". I really loved the "Poisonwood Bible" and have also read a ton of poetry. I am a big fan of documentaries and Foreign/Indy films but also enjoy Hollywood blockbusters.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Amazing things I have seen include a group of youth who gave their hearts, minds and energy to Peterborough!
I have had some interesting border crossing stories, especially in my life of traveling with animals.
I just recently got back from camping in an old growth forest on Vancouver Island in BC. The giant trees that I met were truly amazing.
Then I had an opportunity to camp on an almost uninhabited island called Koh Ra in the Andaman sea and met a tree that was probably a thousand years old like the cedar and spruce I met in BC.
Spending a month at the Panya Project North of Chiang Mai in Thailand was spectacular, especially as I had the opportunity to live with more than 30 wonderful people from 5 different continents.
Speaking of uninhabited islands, all of my precious 4 weeks on Curieuse in the Seychelles would qualify as amazing as well. I don't think there is enough space to list everything I have had the privilege to experience.
Time spent in the Nass Valley has been energizing and I've enjoyed catching, collecting, preparing, and eating all of the abundance the region has to offer - delicious!

Teach, Learn, Share

I was an animal trainer that worked with a wide variety of species both exotic and domestic.
I am a teacher and have worked with young kids as well as teenagers and youth both in the classroom and through camps, government projects and organizations.
I am a writer and a pretty good editor. Poetry is my area of interest but I love to read all other forms of literature as well.
I love the arts and would like to learn more about painting, sculpting and music. I play a little guitar, but not very well.
I'm interested in gardening and farming and would like to learn more about various forms including outdoor, greenhouse, permaculture and organic as well as natural building projects.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can offer a new perspective on lifestyle in Canada as well as a spectacular view and trails for the hardy hiker/explorer. If you bring the fishing licenses, you won't be disappointed here either.

Countries I’ve Visited

Aruba, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Curaçao, Egypt, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Iceland, Italy, Jordan, Malaysia, Monaco, Norway, Oman, Panama, Portugal, Qatar, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, Qatar

• 

•