CURRENT MISSION

Experience as much of the world as I can

ABOUT ME

I am liberal, free-spirited and a firm believer that travel makes you a better person. Walking through a museum is fine but walking in someone else's shoes is irreplaceable. I plan on doing quite a bit of walking.

PHILOSOPHY

Live and let live.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I love the idea of spending time with people who share my passion for travel and are willing to share their stories with me. We all learn so much from each other and those experiences are priceless.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I met up with Joseph in Harvard Square for lunch and tea before he flew back to England...it was great to meet him and we had a really nice chat.
My first "couch" was in Salzburg with Thomas...and his 120 birdspiders. Amazing experience...absolutely loved it.
Stuttgart with Matt and the gang was a hillarious good time.

Interests

I was a rower in college so I love being active and outside. One of my favorite ways to get to know the lay of the land in a new city is to wake up before the general population and go for a run with the sunrise. I am a big animal lover. My background in anthropology and psychology has primed me to be ultra-interested in all things cultural and pretty open minded and accepting of differences.

• animals
• culture
• running
• walking
• traveling
• hiking
• tour de france
• anthropology
• cartography
• psychology

Music, Movies, and Books

so many, I'm a sponge
Music: classic 80's and early 90's are my favs...and pretty much everything else (as long as it's not Britney Spears and the like). Some particular favorites: Guster, Depeche Mode, R.E.M., Coldplay, U2, Eve 6, The Ray Hendrick's Revival (you don't know them yet, but you will), Better than Ezra, Louis Armstrong.
Movies: I love the old classics (Casablanca, An Affair to Remember, etc.), anything with Audrey Hepburn, Real Genius, Schindler's List, L'auberge espagnole, Les poupées russes, The Goonies...so many more.
Books: Water for Elephants, The Lovely Bones, American Taboo, Into Thin Air, The Kite Runner, Into the Wild, Without You, Black Like Me, Nickle and Dimed, Jane Eyre, Hamlet, and about a hundred more. I'm always looking for my next favorite book so suggestions are more than welcome!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I spent one Christmas hiking and ziplining through the remote jungles of Laos and sleeping in a tree house. Google "The Gibbon Experience" and if you ever happen to be in Laos, do not miss the opportunity to wake up to the call of these endagered apes.

I competed in the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston alongside the world's best rowers...it's was a thrill of a lifetime.
I also got to witness Lance Armstrong's record-breaking 7th Tour de France win along the Champs a few years ago...very cool moment.

Teach, Learn, Share

I think the most important thing to do is to not only know that there will be some sort of culture shock, but WANT there to be. I've seen people travel and get upset when things aren't exactly as they are back home...there's no point in getting on the plane if you approach traveling with that mind-set. I love the challenge of adjusting to a new way of thinking and living and that's what I take away most with me.
I also think it's important when traveling to spend at least one day by yourself wherever you are (more if time allows) and get yourself "happily lost". Put the maps away and just wander off into any direction you fancy...I've had the best experiences when I do this.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Italy, Laos, Netherlands, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, South Korea, United States

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