CURRENT MISSION - To become fluent in the Italian language, improve my cooking skills, show people what good coffee really tastes like, and make life-long friends from around the world.

WHO I AM - An adventurous American woman with Italian and Polish roots, but born in Greece. My father was in the military my entire childhood, so I moved all around the world experiencing new scenery, unfamiliar cultures, and all types of personalities. When people ask me where I'm from, I don't ever have a solid answer to give because I’ve never lived in a place long enough to call "home.”

WHAT I’M DOING - I own a pop-up specialty coffee bar called Pin Drop Coffee (@pindropcoffee on Instagram.) Aside from collaborating with local businesses and creatives to throw events, I spend a lot of time exploring local roasters all around the U.S., exposing people to coffees they can't find in their hometown, and educating them on how to properly taste and brew a better cup. I’m also obsessed with plants and recently started a plant rescue and adoption, along with in-home / in-office plant care and consulting (@emeraldspiritplants on Instagram.)

PERSONALITY - I'm reliable, courageous, honest, assertive, skeptical, loyal, sensitive, perceptive, and giving...but I've also discovered that many people make inaccurate first impressions of me, so let's meet and you can decide for yourself. :)

PHILOSOPHY - Life is precious, so don't be afraid to take risks, be vulnerable, and put yourself out there for new experiences. Perspective is key. There’s a lesson in every mistake, and a silver lining in everything that doesn’t go as planned. Try everything at least once, and try everything twice because everything/everyone deserves a second chance. Eat amazing food, take photographs to have physical memories, and be outdoors as much as possible. Be kind to your body and mind because you only get one. And most importantly, stay true to yourself, but compromise when it matters.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

To meet interesting people from around the world. We all have a story to tell, so I’m really not interested in hosting people who aren’t interested in engaging and interacting with me. You can rent a hotel for that.

Interests

Cooking, photography, the beach, history and culture, discovering new music, befriending stray animals, thunderstorms, stand-up comedy, trying new restaurants, jogging, yoga, bike riding, falling asleep in parks, deep conversation, wine and beer tasting, live music, camping, hiking, painting, watching children play, volunteering, spontaneous adventures, 420 friendly :)

• animals
• culture
• photography
• dining
• cooking
• recipes
• wine
• beer
• coffee
• yoga
• traveling
• painting
• music
• live music
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• hiking
• camping
• horse racing
• track and field
• history
• tourism
• language exchange
• volunteering
• beaches
• parks

Music, Movies, and Books

MUSIC - Tool, Milosh, Phantogram, Fat Freddy's Drop, Fabrizio De André, João Gilberto, St. Lucia, Emancipator, Purity Ring, Thievery Corporation, Dave Matthews Band, Arctic Monkeys, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynard, Bone Thugs, BB King, Billie Holiday, Sinatra...this list could go on forever.

MOVIES - Braveheart, Dances With Wolves, Life In A Day, Pulp Fiction, Forrest Gump, Donnie Darko, Wedding Crashers, Dazed & Confused, The Breakfast Club, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Into the Wild, Edward Scissorhands, Alice in Wonderland...I have a very large DVD collection.

BOOKS - Way of the Peaceful Warrior, Shantaram, The Miracle of Mindfulness, This Time Called Life, Becoming, The Alchemist, Plainsong, The Pearl Diver, The Buddhist Catechism, The Wisdom of the Enneagram, The Fault In Our Stars, Me Before You, Beautiful Ruins

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Hitch hiking alone in southern Ireland. Experiencing the adrenaline-rushing Palio horse race in Siena, Italy from the walls of the track. Searching for my long lost relatives in Italy without knowing how to speak the language. Cliff jumping in Croatia.

Teach, Learn, Share

I love cooking with others and sharing recipes! I can teach you a lot about coffee and the science behind it. My music collection is extensive as well, and I'm always looking for people to exchange tunes with. I can also teach you how to be more free-spirited, how to stop making excuses for not doing the things you want to do, and how to take more risks in life.

I'm practicing how to be more patient, less anxious, and not let the small things stress me out. I am also trying to become fluent in Italian, so if you want to do a language exchange, I'm happy to teach you English!

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, England, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Montenegro, Netherlands, Scotland, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Greece, Iceland, Italy, United States