Student. Wannabe Writer.

I am studying Political Science with an emphasis on Middle Eastern Studies and a minor in Spanish language. When I first started school, I thought that I wanted to be a Foreign Service Officer working with the U.S. State Department, and I have a tentative plan to join the Peace Corps when I graduate. That is, if I don't end up traveling forever!

Traveling is a the best way to get out of your comfort zone.

When I was younger and upset about confronting a problem, my parents used to say to me, "There's always a solution." This is my personal philosophy. It basically means the same as "If there's a will, there's a way." Sometimes you only need 20 seconds of insane courage; sometimes you need to scrimp and save and plan for months. But nothing is impossible.

I believe in the sanctity of traveling alone.
I also believe in the joy of traveling with friends.

My hero is Zoe Washburne.

I have five brothers and two sisters.

I'm really interested in learning more about finding work on private or chartered yachts. If you have any experience there, I'd love to buy you a drink and chat.

My Instagram username is kaelenp. You don't have to "follow" me back or anything, but you can see where I've been!

Disclaimer: I am not interested in any romantic or intimate encounters while abroad. I am very firm on this.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Meet people and learn about the world. Hopefully make some friends to travel with in the future.

Even though my profile says that I have been a member of Couchsurfer since 2013, I have only actually begun using it in July of 2016. I haven't hosted yet because I haven't been home in several months, but I hope to start contributing back to the community when I return home in August. There are many types of people in this world, but people who use platforms like CS are a unique breed - they are easy-going, courageous, kind, hilarious, experienced, perceptive, and happy. They are people I want to emulate.

Interests

Reading
Camping
Fashion
People-watching
Climbing (trees, rocks, mountains, walls, fences, etc.)

A lot of other things

Music, Movies, and Books

Books: The Name of the Wind, Lord of the Rings, the Way of Kings, the Secret Garden, A Little Princess, Stone's Fall, The Lies of Locke Lamora, Lord of the Rings
Authors: Neil Gaiman, Iain Pears

Music: the Killers, Glass Animals, Bon Iver, the Black Keys, Muse, Michael Jackson, Jamie N Commons, the Civil Wars, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ed Sheeran, Elvis Presley, Ella Fitzgerald, Monsters and Men, Fall Out Boy, Florence + the Machine, Halsey, Keane, Lana Del Rey, Panic!, John Newman, Walk the Moon, Elton John
- I'm always interested in finding new music to listen to!

Movies: Secondhand Lions, About Time, Firefly series, Hook, Deadpool, Super 8, The Holiday, Mulan.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I drove across the United States by myself. I lived alone in Hawaii for three months. I ran with the bulls in Pamplona in 2016.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can make caramelized onions. I can talk for a surprisingly long amount of time about people with visual impairments. I can whistle with my hands.

I think there is a VERY big difference between visiting a place for a few days and visiting a place for a few weeks or months. There is nothing wrong, per se, with spending only a few days in a certain city visiting all the main sights, but I have come to realize that the experience often becomes a shallow and fleeting one in comparison to an extended stay. For me, at least. I'm interested in discussing this subject because for some people, the short term option is the ONLY option. How is one to reconcile?

I have recently begun learning to draw, mostly with pencil. If you ask me to see my sketchbook before I visit, you do me the favor of motivating me to practice!

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can share conversation about food, fashion, camping, books, religion, childcare, or a million other things.

I can share traveling tips for the places I have already been.

I can share any skills I have that might be useful - I can cook (some things), clean, unclog your drain, reach high shelves (for I am quite tall), play with kids, play with animals, provide a fresh perspective and help makeover your online dating profile (I've done this before), change a tire, change a lightbulb, or simply be an extra pair of hands when you have a task that needs doing.

I can share stories (ask me how I ended up in a cornfield in Illinois standing in my pajamas holding a stranger's Shih Tzu).

Countries I’ve Visited

Botswana, Costa Rica, England, France, Germany, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, United States, Zambia

Countries I’ve Lived In

Spain, United States