Born in Iowa, tried not to be boring, moved to Scotland, danced in puddles, moved to Kansas, ran fast, jumped too high, tore my ACL, did roller derby, wore bandanas, moved alone to Austria, sailed in Croatia, got lost in Slovenia, slept in Italian vineyards, gawked at Surrealist art in Berlin, surfed in Morocco, hitchhiked through Romania, trained Newfoundland dogs in Scotland, taught English in Assisi, fell in love with the Beat poets, ran 100 miles in Arkansas, moved to Indonesia, danced in Phuket oceans, became a freelance writer.

Au pairing in New Zealand.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I love people. I love stories. I love culture. I love the base personality of the adventure; how easy it is to connect through shared experiences and how much better we become with every new perspective.

"The secret to happiness is freedom...and the secret to freedom is courage." (Thucydides)

Interests

I want to be outside.

With a pen in my hand and a dusty slice of paper, don't give me food I'll just take air and conversation that could change the world.

• culture
• vegetarian
• yoga
• running
• traveling
• hiking
• teaching
• biking
• tree climbing
• hammocking
• coffee and tea

Music, Movies, and Books

Affinity for the Beats -- Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, William Burroughs. I love a good adventure, anything by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Jules Verne, Douglas Adams, Neil Gaiman, Herman Hesse, Paulo Coehlo, etc.

Favorite poets in height order: Whitman, Ginsberg, Kerouac, Pound, Rilke, Tennyson.

Perfect combination: glass of red wine, spoonful of peanut butter, windows open fire on fluffy dog, jazz.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I signed up for a 100 mile ultra run along the Lake Ouchita trail in Arkansas. The race was canceled 20 minutes before we arrived because of weather. With the help of my wonderful parents (and border collie pup) I ran it anyways in 31 hours, for the championship (and last place position).

Teach, Learn, Share

What I can teach: English language and literature, how to train a dog, how to run an ultra marathon
What I want to learn: how to have less of an eco-footprint, gardening, caring for the Earth, long-distance traveling (particularly the art of tramping or cycle tours), how to say hello in as many world languages as possible
Skills I can share: writing, cooking, coffee-crafting

What I Can Share with Hosts

Good communication, mindful conversation, sun-gravy smiles, positivity. The inevitably unwise dreams of a vagabond.

I am a brunch chef and former barista, so I can cook you a mean brekkie and improvise a cappucino with a moka pot and french press. I can also provide any writing/editing services you may need!

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Morocco, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Poland, Slovenia, Thailand, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

Austria, Indonesia, New Zealand, Scotland, United States