Hi, I'm Stephanie! I'm 24, from south California, and over the last five years I've lived in Japan, Germany, Finland, and the USA. I graduated 2017 from San Diego State University with a BA in European Studies with a primary focus on Germany, and during my degree I studied abroad at three highly accredited universities; two in Germany, one in Japan. I remained in California for the last year to work but grew too restless, as I often do, and knew that I wouldn't be happy unless I was on the move again. Thus, I quit my job, packed my bags, and am currently traveling indefinitely.

This path is one of risk and uncertainty, but it makes me feel far more in control of my life than remaining in California did. I'm a slow traveler; I prefer to get to know a place, even if it's just for two or three days. I'm not big on tourist things, and I prefer to wander aimlessly around the quieter areas of a town, and always I find myself sitting in cafes and in nature. I'm a photographer, always lugging around both my digital and film cameras, and I'm a writer as well. My goal is not so much to see the world, but to experience it. I like going places with no plans in mind and just seeing what that place has to offer me in its own way/time.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Obviously, couch surfing is an incredibly financially-friendly option for the young, broke, wide-eyed traveler such as myself, and I hope for it to be my missing puzzle piece between my visits with friends, jobs at hostels, and workaways. I'm also a history nut and love local culture, and probably the best way in my opinion to have an authentic experience in a place is with the assistance of a local.

Interests

• cats
• writing
• photography
• beer
• coffee
• thrifting
• hiking
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Alcest, Amorphis, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Borns, Green Day, Guns N' Roses, Pink Floyd, The Eagles, Bon Jovi

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Croatia, Finland, Germany, Japan, United States