Hey fellow adventurers!
My name is Lauren, but I go by Ren for short. I have had deep love for traveling the world and seeing different ways of life all around since I was a child. I am currently a college student working on my degree in elementary education with the hope of being able to travel the world and teach abroad.
I am an extremely smiley, cheerful, upbeat individual who enjoys a good laugh and a good book. I love scuba diving, backpacking, waterskiing, running, kayaking...pretty much anything outdoors.
I have been fortunate to travel to many places, but itch to go to many more! I hope to meet you along my travels!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

To meet fellow wanderlusters, swap stories, and build friendships along the way! Traveling for me is all about the people you meet and the life-shaping experiences that you have.

Interests

Trying new things
Traveling
Photography
Meeting new people
Scuba diving
Long distance running
Water skiing
Teaching
Living life to its fullest
God

• culture
• books
• photography
• beauty
• education
• running
• traveling
• outdoor activities
• backpacking
• kayaking
• scuba diving
• skiing
• teaching

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: I like pretty much any music that isn't explicit, crude, or offensive. In my free time I tend towards contemporary Christian, classical/instrumental, something with a good beat, and/or motivational. However, I seriously like most music.

Movies: The Hundred Foot Journey

Books: The Bible, Harry Potter, and The Mark of the Lion series just to name a few. I love reading with a passion, so my list could be quite extensive.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Nearly three years ago now, I moved to Yap, Micronesia for a year to teach 1st and 2nd grade and to help out in the Seventh-day Adventist church there on the island. Though it's only 16x2 miles, the culture on the island is rich and alive, the people are some of the kindest you'll ever meet, and the beauty there is breathtaking! As I lived there I got to teach 18 wonderful kiddos, talk about God with others, build lifelong friendships, and become quite the scuba diver!
My favorite dive I did while on Yap was when we went outside the reef and dove with over a dozen black and white tip reef sharks! It sounds like it should be terrifying, but it was exhilarating for me! In fair defense, the sharks were only 4-5 feet long, but they were so incredible to dive with in such a close proximity!

Teach, Learn, Share

Life is a journey. Love deeply where ever you go. Don't judge others- you haven't walked a mile in their shoes. Live life to the fullest. Learn what you can. Give selflessly. Do hard things. Do things that scare you. Live boldly. Love fiercely. Be a good friend. Love your neighbor. Trust God. Walk humbly. Smile. :)

What I Can Share with Hosts

I'll share a smile, friendship, kindness, a good listening ear, optimism, and any stories you'd like to hear about my travels and experiences.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Mexico, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Micronesia, Federated States of, United States