CURRENT MISSION

I am currently on a mission to become a famous Neuropsychologist. Step 1, get into school.

ABOUT ME

I am just updating this and reading through what I had before was an interesting education in how much I've changed (and perhaps grown) in the past few years.
I've come to value communication and honesty in relationships. And I've come to a point where I find that I don't have time for bored people. There is too much in this world that is wonderful to spend time not doing any of it. I very strongly prefer to spend my time with those who pursue hobbies and enjoy life. I'm a dreamer, and a planner, and for the first time in my life, I'm jumping feet first into achieving something that I really want. It's interesting and scary and amazing all at once. Even a bit sad, leaving all that I know behind...
So, the basics, I have an AA in Education, and that was enough to make me realize that I don't have the patience required to work in public education. I discovered a passion for neuroscience after a failed King Tut/Toronto trip with one of my best friends. Then I did some research into different educational and career paths in that field, and decided that I want to go to Colorado College. Unfortunately, this decision came about a week after the application deadline. So I'm going to apply for Spring transfer. I plan to be ruthless in this pursuit. If they don't accept me, I will audit, I will impress, I will reapply until they are sick of me and let me in just to get me to stop... And once I'm in, I'm going to work my ass off. Outside of that, I'd like to think the rest of my life will be pretty laid back. I prefer dinner parties and intelligent conversation to clubbing. I'll take a pub over a bar any day (just not every day).
I guess I could go on and on about myself... hobbies... hobbies... um, I like crocheting, I make hats and scarves, and I started experimenting with gloves. I like reading, writing, cooking, hiking, sledding, dining out, drinking coffee... and binging on DVR-ed episodes of Jeopardy. Oh, and board games. I love board games and cards.

PHILOSOPHY

-Everything that happens to us, good and bad, is a result of the choices we make.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Right now, I'm gearing up to move across the country. So, I'm hoping to meet new people and find some new friends in a new town where I don't know a soul.
Prior to that, I showed a guy around Middlebury, but I admit that I haven't been too active.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

So far I have met one person for coffee. It is a pretty small town...

Interests

I think I pretty much covered that in the about me portion. I also enjoy making collages and scrapbooking, though it's been a while. As far as the cooking, I go on ethnic/specialty kicks. For a while I played around with various Indian curries, then it was pan-Asian... then I got into working out gluten free recipes... (figured out a killer recipe for vegan/gluten free Cranberry Almond-butter thumbprints). And I enjoy surfing the internet.

• writing
• education
• dining
• cooking
• recipes
• coffee
• vegan
• working out
• partying
• drinking
• clubbing
• pub crawls
• board games
• reading
• scrapbooking
• hiking
• camping
• surfing
• agriculture
• teaching
• engineering
• neuroscience
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

A Fine Balance- Rohinton Mistry;
Arabian Nights and Days- Naguib Mahfouz;
The Birth of Venus- Sarah Dunant;
Lion of Ireland- Morgan Llewelyn;
The Fountainhead- Ayn Rand.

Music: Well... good music... I like it all, really. From Dierks Bentley to the Squirrel Nut Zippers, from Sinatra to Billy Idol, from The Pogues to Medeski, Martin & Wood, to Mozart, to Janis to Lady Gaga. I get in moods, sure, but really there's not much out there that I don't like, as long as it has some merit or relevance to my life. I don't like music that promotes violence or ignorance, I don't like music that is completely unoriginal (if there is such a thing) and there are certain artists I avoid simply because I don't like the person the media has led me to believe that they are... but really, I like it all. Also, under hobbies you can note that I also enjoy going on tangents.

Movies: Also fairly eclectic here...
Survive Style 5+
Black Dynamite
The Taste of Tea
Amadeus
The Scarlet Pimpernel (Jane Seymour/Ian McKellan version)
Gone with the Wind
Let the Right One In
anything by Takashi Miike
Fallen Angels
There Will Be Blood
and I loved Inception
the list goes on...
OH!!
and Jesus Christ, Vampire Hunter

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

It all depends on your idea of amazing. I mean, I have shoveled my way out of five feet of snow. For me that is nothing to write home about, it is at least a yearly occurrence, and everyone in my community had to do the same thing, but for someone in Tahiti, that might be just unfathomable. I have hiked a mountain and spent all day up there. That was amazing to me, but it is one of those things where you kind of had to be there. I have moved over a thousand miles away from my family and back (and I'm about to do it again), which is something that many people will never do, but which so many people have done. I mentored a kid, that was pretty cool.
In 2006, there was a car on fire in my driveway. In 2010, I was on a second date with a guy and his roommates' camper went up in flames.
I'm the first woman in my direct line to make it to the ripe old age of 23 without reproducing. Go me.
I've been in an open relationship. That was kind of amazing, and that particular person, though we aren't together anymore, taught me so much in that relationship about communication and trust and honesty, and about my own worth. And he continues to inspire me to this day... so...
Amazing is relative. Most recently, I went on a 2 week, 2 city vacation to Tucson and San Diego. That was pretty damned amazing.

Teach, Learn, Share

I think that someone with enough money should start a program whereby aspiring doctors can complete their entire degree for free in residence treating patients in an impoverished country. I think that this could work, and I would be willing to engage in productive discussion on the logistics of implementing such a plan. I think the same sort of program could be instituted for other fields as well, such as agriculture, education, and social and civil engineering. There is a lot to be said for personal experience. After all, schools would have very little to teach if all of the greatest minds had sat around a classroom waiting for someone to tell them what to know.

Always be honest. Lies never solve anything. Of course, I'm at the distinct disadvantage that I really can't lie. I'm no good at it, really. As transparent as a window pane.

I think that school children should mentor a class the grade lower and be mentored by a class the grade higher. I think that high school isolates teenagers and allows the opinions and judgments of their peers to become a more profound influence on the teenager than said judgments would be amid a reasonable balance of the rest of society. If your confused, message me, I will gladly elaborate.

In terms of life advice, always serve appetizers, Jello shots are a great contribution to someone else's party, read the directions, measure twice, trust your gut, and never be afraid to ask for help. Never mock others for asking for help, and keep in touch with the people you care about (and not just on facebook, either). Break up before you hate one another. If you decide to stay friends, well, that takes work, so be prepared to make an effort. Do good whenever you can. Take out the trash before it gets too heavy, and clean out the fridge before it smells. Be true to your word, always. Never be afraid to change your mind, or your life, if the situation dictates it. Um... again, I could go on and on... oh, but one more.
If you're getting paid, work. If you're working, get paid. (Volunteer and community work aside...)

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Germany, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States