My obsession with travel really took off after I spent a semester studying abroad in Spain. After that I decided I wanted to live abroad when I graduated. I spent 6 weeks living in the beautifully lush Guatemala and volunteering with children from the Guatemala City garbage dump. Most recently I spent my first year after university teaching at a bilingual school in Chile. This year I am continuing teaching as a second grade teacher in Querétaro, México. I have loved everywhere I have been so far and always love finding second, third, and fourth "homes" around the world!

“Know your limits, not so that you can honor them, but so that you can smash them to pieces and reach for magnificence.” ~Cherie Carter-Scott

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La obsesión con viajar empezó cuando estudié un semestre en Sevilla, España. Después de eso, decidí que quería vivir afuera de los EEUU cuando terminé con la universidad. Pasé 6 semanas en el increíblemente bonito Guatemala y trabajé como voluntaria con los niños del basurero de la Ciudad de Guatemala. Recién, pasé un año trabajando como maestra en un colegio bilingüe en Chile. Este año sigo enseñando como maestra del segundo grado en Querétaro, México. Me he encantado cada lugar que he visitado hasta ahora y siempre me encanta encontrar segundo, tercer, y cuarto "hogares" por todo el mundo!

"Si piensas que la aventura es peligrosa, prueba la rutina. Es mortal." ~Paulo Coelho

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I have used Couchsurfing when traveling for the past couple years and have found it to be a great way to meet locals in places I am traveling, whether I am staying with them or we just meet up for a short time. The world is full of interesting people and Couchsurfing makes it easy to meet and get to know people I would never otherwise have met. And that is a beautiful thing.

Not to mention some of my best friends from places I have lived have come from Couchsurfing!

Interests

Part of being a teacher is committing to be a lifelong learner. I love listening to people talk about where they are from, especially when they are passionately in love with where they are from or where they have been.

I am a teacher, traveler, lifelong learner, pizza lover, puzzle solver, adventure seeker, and loyal friend. I am unphotogenic, often sarcastic, usually flexible, sometimes spontaneous and always willing to try new things. You name it, I'll try it.

• culture
• dancing
• coffee
• traveling
• guitar
• piano
• equestrian
• hiking
• basketball
• tennis
• volleyball
• teaching
• volunteering
• beaches

Music, Movies, and Books

I do not claim to be a connoisseur of music and books, but I will claim the following:

MUSIC
In the U.S. I have been known to listen to a bit more country than is maybe healthy for any human. Say what you will about how all country songs are the same, it is still the only music to listen to driving with the windows rolled down on a summer night. Branching out from that, I have most recently become mildly obsessed with Noah Gundersen. He is a genius and speaks to my soul.
In the world of Latin music, as trashy as it may sometimes be, I am not afraid to admit that I LOVE Reggaeton. It is the best test-your-Spanish-and-see-if-you-understand-the-lyrics-and-then-dance-all-night music, in my opinion. I also love Bachata, but the skills to dance a good Bachata somehow STILL evade me.

BOOKS
I like to read anything that makes me think, makes me laugh or makes me feel. Some chart toppers include I've Got Your Number, God's Problem, Harry Potter, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Gone Girl, The Stonecutter, and many many many more lovely literary marvels.

TV/MOVIES
I am very much more of a tv junkie than a film critic. Highlights to my tv/movie life include The Office, Friends, Parks and Rec, Boy Meets World, Gone Girl (one of the only times a movie has done an acceptable job adapting from a book), She's the Man, and Magic in the Moonlight.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

A few memorable things I have done in my travels include riding camels in the Sahara Desert, hiking a volcano in Guatemala, floating on a salt lagoon in the Atacama Desert, playing with penguins and hiking through Torres del Paine in Patagonia, watching the sun rise on the largest salt flats in the world, hitch hiking for days through Chile, horseback riding on the beach in Spain, visiting Machu Picchu, and meeting some amazing people and lifelong friends along the way.

Teach, Learn, Share

I would love to learn anything from anyone, but especially appreciate people who teach passionately about their culture or language (German is the current hurdle I am attempting to jump over slowly, very slowly). I could also use some new dance moves please.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Once upon a time I was a volleyball, basketball, and tennis player as well as a piano and guitar player. I don't practice these things so much anymore, but I will gladly share my rusty skills with you, as well as a coffee, some chelas, or whatever you like, accompanied by some excellent conversation.

Oh, and of course English and/or Spanish!

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czech Republic, El Salvador, France, Germany, Guatemala, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Chile, Guatemala, Mexico, Spain, United States