CURRENT MISSION

Indulging in learning - plunging into new dimensions of old interests. I'm in the middle of a year "off" between finishing an MA degree and starting a PhD, and I am happily fulfilling my mission of immersing myself in movement studies - dance improvisation, studies of anatomy and biomechanics, and a newfound passion for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I'm also, obviously, indulging in traveling, also in order to fulfill the above mission; and reading and writing at my own pace. I intend to just be in the world, with minimal stress and maximally open senses...

ABOUT ME

Pretty darn independent, I like to really get into stuff (i.e. conversations, time, movement, 'listening'). I run every morning, wherever I am, whatever the weather. I like learning new languages, trying to speak in them even if the result is ridiculous; I like to laugh a lot, and when I'm in new places, I like to walk around a lot.

My longer term trajectory is largely academic (Performance Studies with an emphasis on Anthropology, dance/movement ethnography), my persistent mode is as a mover (a dancer, a mover, an unaffiliated sola athlete), and in the more "normal world" work I've done is in education with children and young people. As an adult, I've lived for significant periods in Northampton (MA, USA), Paris (France), Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso), San Francisco (CA, USA), New Haven (CT, USA).

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

As indicated above, I'm traveling in Brazil for two+ months, largely in order to train in various movement forms - especially now Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I eternally live on a tight budget, and truly appreciate the kinds of interactions that Couchsurfing facilitates. I'm more interested in getting to know a place in a quotidian, every-day way than touristically consuming a place in an exceptional, spectacular way.

Interests

ramble, faire de la randonnée, danse (encore), faire la course, entamer des longues conversations avec des amis, lire, écrire...

• writing
• performing arts
• dancing
• education
• running
• athlete
• reading
• traveling
• crochet
• knitting
• cycling
• jiu jitsu
• anatomy
• anthropology
• teaching
• languages
• language exchange

Music, Movies, and Books

Joni Mitchell, Oumou Sangaré, The McGarrigle Sisters...

I hardly ever watch movies, let alone TV.

I read a lot of theory, but when I long to read a novel (like, right now) I might first think of Iris Murdoch...

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Rode my bike across the Golden Gate Bridge at one in the morning, thoroughly loaded down with groceries, after seven hours of dancing...

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach handcraft skills of various kinds (knitting, sewing by hand and machine, crochet, starting to do some leather work now...), contact improvisation, English and French grammar... I am very excited to learn Portuguese, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and social dance forms...

What I Can Share with Hosts

My exuberance, conscientious conversation, language exchange... depends on who and what comes up!

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Canada, Congo, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Senegal, Spain

Countries I’ve Lived In

Burkina Faso, France, United States