Currently living in the coastal city of Wilmington, North Carolina, I work as the Donations Coordinator for Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity. I graduated with a degree in International Studies and moved to Paris for one year. I've been back stateside for almost two years and I'm pretty much just dying to travel like I used to and doing my best to feed the travel monster inside of me whenever I can.

I do love my job. My goal after college was to work in non-profits so, after having taught English abroad for a year, I've been very happy to have the opportunity to make my local community better and stronger. Ideally, I would like to continue working in non-profits in new cities and especially foreign countries!

My greatest loves are dancing, the outdoors, and my dog. Traveling is a given since I'm on CS. It's like getting my oil changed... If I don't do it every so often I'll literally break down :P Latin dancing is my favorite. I enjoy ballroom dancing and have been known dance like I've lost my mind at festivals or in the club. My dog is my best friend. I couldn't live without her so I even took her when I moved to France.

I was to say "My favorite thing about traveling is..." but I enjoy every piece of the puzzle. I love to plan, I love to fly, ride trains, meet new people, experience their cultures, SEE the landscapes, cityscapes, try new foods, try new languages. As much as I love to plan I also love to be spontaneous and throw away the itinerary for a day of aimless wandering when the mood is right.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

To have the most authentic experience possible anywhere I go. I want to meet new people and open myself up to opportunities I wouldn't have had as a traditional tourist.

In Paris my boyfriend at the time hosted countless CSers and each time I learned something new, shared my favorite pieces of our city, and created a new friendship.

I myself have CSed in Paris, Amsterdam, Geneva, Lisbon, Athens, Rijecka, more even...

Each time I have created such incredible memories with my hosts that I couldn't imagine having a more meaningful exchange with each city I visit and the most hospitable people I was lucky enough to meet through CS.

Interests

Yoga! Hiking/backpacking, paddle boarding, biking, laying on the beach, naps under trees, naps in trees, picnics, happy hour, singing in the car, roadtrips, flying, EATING, tasting, feeling, language, documentaries, social and international issues, people, LEARNING!

• dogs
• singing
• documentaries
• festivals
• dancing
• bachata
• ballroom dancing
• recipes
• yoga
• clubbing
• happy hour
• flying
• boating
• traveling
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• hiking
• backpacking
• languages
• beaches

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Modest Mouse, The Black Keys, almost anything involving Jack White, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, The Shins, Alt-J, The National, Bon Iver, Cake, Dr.Dog, anything and everything involving Florence Welch, Jack White, M83, Gorillaz, Lady Gaga, Local Natives, Beats Antique, MIA, Beyonce, Sleigh Bells, Two Door Cinema Club, She & Him, Adele

Movies: Moonrise Kingdom, Fantastic Mr.Fox, all Wes Anderson movies really, A Lot Like Love, Garden State, No Country for Old Men, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Dirty Dancing, Documentaries of all sorts...

Books: The Sun Also Rises, The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Bell Jar, Their Eyes Were Watching God, A Song of Ice and Fire series, The Great Gatsby

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I lived in 144sq ft and shared a bed with my dog and my best friend/life long travel companion Loretta for 9 months in a Parisian studio while living on 15 euros per week. The latter was probably the most amazing when I think about trying to live on $20 a week here. We also rode a bus 8 hours overnight to spend 11 hours in Amsterdam for my birthday eating Dutch pancakes on a boat and falling asleep in Vondelpark after wandering the streets and canals for hours. We also hiked Plitvicka national park through 4 hours of pouring rain,

I've crossed the Mediterranean Sea by boat, swam in the Adriatic and Aegean seas, ran terrified from (harmless?) cobras in the souks of Marakech, climbed the Parthenon in Athens, the Colosseum in Rome, the Arc D'Triomphe and Buttes Chaumont in Paris, spent Christmas in the Aps with a group of complete strangers, and eaten in every street market I could find between Lisbon and Tokyo.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach you all of my favorite recipes and even a little Bachata or Salsa! I taught English for a year abroad and I dare say I could teach a tiny bit of French or Spanish.

What I Can Share with Hosts

My genuine passion for learning about other cultures, sharing mine, and my enthusiasm for everything and every place in between. I can definitely share a conversation. I can share a park bench, a table, and sometimes even my french fries.

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Morocco, Netherlands, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland

Countries I’ve Lived In

France