CURRENT MISSION

To make new friends, to deepen current friendships, to explore the world, to learn something from everyone, to make the lives of those I touch more happy & healthy, to make the most of this gift of life and this special time on Earth. :-)

PHILOSOPHY

The first quote that comes to mind is this: "Strangers are just friends you haven't met yet." (Sorry, I don't know who this quote came from but it wasn't me.) I will write more on philosophy when I have time.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I haven't really participated yet. Working and still studying so don't have time to travel or host right now.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

None yet but will share them once I have them!:-)

Interests

Too many to list right now but travel is at the top. From a philanthropic perspective, I'm most interested in promoting clean and renewable energy, building peace between people and nations, and in educating people to care and to be engaged in life and community (both local & international).

• dogs
• dancing
• dining
• cooking
• wine
• boating
• flowers
• traveling
• backpacking
• teaching

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: Love documentaries, true stories, dramas, & comedies. Prefer international (aka "foreign") films. Examples of movies I enjoyed: Machuca (about the 1973 coup in Chile and how it impacted children), Joy Luck Club, Blood Diamond, Syriana, Constant Gardener, Schindler's List, Nowhere In Africa, The Gods Must Be Crazy, Life is Beautiful, Hotel Rwanda, The Thornbirds, many others I can't recall right now. Dislike violent movies, slapstick humor, and musicals. Music: Love jazz, R & B, soul, gospel, rock, classical, and some alternative. Prefer international music. DISlike heavy metal & techno. Some favorite books that come to mind right now: Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, A Fine Balance, The Kite Runner, The Cultural Creatives, The Sorrows of Empire by Chalmers Johnson, Confessions of an Economic Hitman by John Perkins, and War is a Racket by General Smedey Butler.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Quit my 12 years job as a teacher, sold or gave away everything, and went backpacking around Europe, South America, Asia, & Australia for 2 years. Whenever I ran out of money, I would stop somewhere interesting and work as an English teacher, a hotel cleaning lady, a hostie on a boat in the Great Barrier Reef, or even as a dishwasher in a restaurant. Best decision I ever made in my life. Backpacking around the world for 2 years taught me to stop being fearful about living without an actual job. I didn't go hungry after leaving my job and I was perfectly safe wherever I went. And people all over the world are SO kind, helpful, & trustworthy. I learned that you are never truly alone. If there's something you dream of doing, take a risk & jump! Travel is a great teacher. I'm planning to do more backpacking in the future. If you ask me, being bound to a 30-year house mortgage, living in debt, and working like a dog in the same place for one's whole life does not sound very meaningful. Hence the reason I choose to rent and to live more simply without debt.

Teach, Learn, Share

Informally teach/practice English conversation with those who want to learn/practice it. Want to learn how to dance: especially Salsa, Swing, African Dance, etc. Would also like to take some cooking and flower-arranging classes. Love to share delicious food, good wine, fun experiences, and interesting conversation.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can share house or apt-cleaning duties. I'm one of those odd ones who actually enjoy housecleaning. I'd like to share cooking detail with you but I'm really NOT much of a cook. I'll do the dishes instead if that's okay.

Countries I’ve Visited

Costa Rica, Denmark, Finland, Germany, India, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Saint Lucia, Sri Lanka, Sweden, United Kingdom, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Canada, Chile, Grenada, Norway, United States

•