Hi there! I am Kelsey. I grew up in Southern California, and have made travel my passion and priority for the last 7 or so years. I love film photography, and consider myself a pretty crafty person. I spent the last 5 years working as a nanny for children of all ages, and most recently I helped organize and run a large women's gathering on the west cost of the US, where women from all over the world come to share skills and take all kinds of workshops and classes. Through this, I have found a passion for earth-based crafts, self-empowerment, indigenous teachings, and living off the land. I hope to continue to learn more about these subjects on my wanderings throughout the world.
I love to dance, and also recently also uncovered a love for playing music and singing. Other interests of mine are surfing, spending time outdoors, kitchen witchin, all kinds of exploration, general silliness, and constantly learning new things.
I tend to make friends wherever I go, and hold human connection and friendship with love and reverence.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

------ ORIGINAL BIO FROM 2019 ---------
I believe in human connection and our ability to support one-another. Since I began traveling, I have loved to discover how to visit and explore places in alternative ways. This could look like work-trade, meeting local people and staying with them, living in alternative communities, sleeping in cars, or hiking through mountains. I know there are so many ways to see the world, and I love to explore these different opportunities. Couch surfing has been an incredible way to meet people, share new experiences, and make wonderful friends along the way, while simultaneously proving that life doesn't need to be money-centric all the time.

I also just began traveling alone for the first time, so it feels good to be able to meet good people along my journey who are kind and supportive and build lasting friendships. I prefer sitting and chatting over a glass of wine or walking through a new city with a new friend, than going to bars and drinking every night (although this is occasionally fun also!) so for me, this way of traveling feels much more desirable than hostels, or hotel and airbnbs.

------------UPDATE 2024 -----------
Updating my profile now. Years after using couch surfing while traveling for a year during 2018/2019 and having the amazing experience of staying with dozens of incredible generous and wonderful hosts, I am now living in my own home and am excited to give back the same experience to others. Couch Surfing was such a profound experience and I am so grateful to all the hosts I had during my travels in Europe.

I am now living in the forest of Southern Oregon, USA and hope I can pass along the same amount of generosity and care to others that I received when I was couch surfing. :)

Interests

• singing
• dancing
• cooking
• farmers' market
• crafts
• guitar
• hiking
• backpacking
• surfing
• swimming
• film photography
• storytelling
• plants
• collaboration
• getting lost
• herbal medicine
• wild swimming
• handpan

Music, Movies, and Books

Sooooooo many to name, I have a very broad and eclectic taste in music, and music is a huge part of my life. This is a conversation better left for an in-person chat :)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Scuba diving through Dos Ojos Cenote underground caves in the Yucatán of southern Mexico

Teach, Learn, Share

Yes, yes, yes. truly three of my favorite things in the world, and the driving forces behind who I am, what I do, and why I travel. Teaching, learning, sharing. All things, in all ways.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I am a YES person, so can join you for any activity (or leave you alone if you prefer)
We can share laughter, music, outlooks on the world, deep conversation, really silly fun. I will cook for you if you'd like, or enjoy your cooking with you!
I know about fermenting foods and can teach you how to make saurkraut, wine, kombucha, ect.
I can take beautiful photos of you if you'd like, or even teach you about film photography.
I love crafts, and can make many things, so I am happy to share my knowledge about different crafts from around the world or make you a treasure to keep.

Countries I’ve Visited

Andorra, Australia, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Italy, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Netherlands, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, United States