3 years I left my job and backpacked around the world for a year. I spent time in Asia and then Eastern and Central Europe. It was an amazing experience and there was so much I learned in that time. The following year I drove to California from my home in NY - alone! With no plan! While driving across country I found an apartment in Cali and moved in the day I arrived. I spent one year there before returning to NY and going back to work. The desire and love of travel has never left me.

I am quiet. introspective, curious. I like people with clear, direct energies. People with good hearts, I can tell when I meet you. I am genuine and I think you will see that immediately, though I can be a bit reserved at first.

In my free time I am trying to run a food blog and do recipe development as well as food styling. I'm still leaning food styling but I love it! I have spent many years cooking and taking pictures of the results and now I'm working to make it a bigger part of my life.

I'm a pretty cool drinking buddy, but I'm a pretty good not-drinking buddy, too. Would love to share wine or beer with you as I have lots of travel stories and would love to hear yours as well. I understand fully that couchsurfers allow you into their homes while they pursue regular lives and the surfer is on vacation! I am respectful of that. I'm neat and not a noisy person. That counts for a lot.

I don't get drunk or party on vacation because I am a woman alone and it is a safety concern so you don't have to expect that if I am a guest with you.

Also I think now, especially with the climate in the world and America, it is important to mention that I practice zero tolerance policy on discrimination and ignorance. All people deserve love and fairness, but ignorance does not. I am welcoming to all lifestyles and people.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm looking for amazing people to swap stories with and learn from. I rather enjoy to talk food because I am always thinking of food an techniques. Interested in learning about what makes you and your culture incredibly valuable to the world.

There is so much opportunity to learn and I do not think people do enough of it. We'd all be better of if we did and even if when we did we spent more time learning about OURSELVES in the process.

Interests

I love cooking, the beach, sun, warmth, reading, making friends, good drinks, eating, hiking, pretty ocean views from awesome vantage points and laughter. Does red wine count as an interest? Not in a snobby way, just an I really like drinking it, way. I do reiki and am continuing to learn tarot.

I taught myself to crochet recently and that's been pretty cool making wearable stuff for babies.

• dining
• cooking
• wine
• red wine
• partying
• drinking
• reading
• traveling
• crochet
• hiking
• beaches

Music, Movies, and Books

This is always a tough question, these kinds of things don't stick in my brain.
I read lots of things, trying to expand my reading collection to some new genres. I generally do easy reading when I'm traveling.

I love action movies, independent films, psychological thrillers and good dramas.

I have attended a few raves and festivals and always had fun with the awesome friendly people. I listen to techno, reggae, but mostly alternative R&B or alternative pop/rock.

I'm totally into Podcasts, let's talk about Serial, Lore or RadioLab!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I've done some pretty cool things or at least, been to some pretty cool places.
I climbed Mt. Marcy, it's the highest elevation in New York. It was November on the ground and mid-February (weather wise) by the time we reached the peak. My eyelashes froze. The hike was grueling through snow and sludge and rocky river beds. I was not expecting to be as hard as it was on my body but I made it up and we made it back down in the dark. First mountain I'd ever hiked to the peak.
There were no super cool views from the top because the weather was too overcast and windy but I was proud of myself... and really, really sore the day after.

Also there was that one time I held a wild baby caiman. That was super cool, too.

Stayed in a remote village in Vietnam.
Lived in two of the biggest cities in the US.
Got detained trying to cross the Serbian boarder because I did not know I was in an illegal taxi.

Teach, Learn, Share

I love to cook. I'm pretty good at it, but I'm no professional chef. I'd love to cook for (and with!) you. I also love love love to try new foods and learn to cook traditional dishes and cooking styles in the places I visit. Almost everywhere I go I try to take a cooking class. Food is an awesome reminder of the amazing places you've been. When I'm home I love making American Southern food, Thai, Italian, French and Jamaican foods but I love picking up new things and techniques.

I love to be knowledgable about language, it's definitely not my strong suit but I'm a firm believer that some knowledge about language in the place you are visiting can take you a long way. I can terribly shy when I have to speak another language and I'm known to giggle my way through any sentence.

What I Can Share with Hosts

My food skills, I'm totally happy to make you a meal, you can even make a request! I am good company, I'm pretty quiet unless you want to party. I'm a blast at a good party or at a table chatting with friends.

Countries I’ve Visited

Aruba, Austria, Bahamas, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Serbia, Singapore, Thailand, United States, Vatican City State, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Italy, United States