A quirky, goofy, all around artsy gal who strives to remain aware and informed about the global community that I live within. I am a free spirited wild woman who is in perpetual persuite of meaning and substance within my life. I ebb and flow like the moon, often pregnant with ideas and inspiration; I am always in search of artistic avenues as an outlets for such moments of creative flare. I take great joy in meeting new people from diverse backgrounds. I see symbolism and meaning within many things and I strive to take nothing in life for granted. I am so fortunate that I have been able to meet some amazing and talented individuals along the winding path of life who have helped me to grow and develop into the person that I am now, may the journey continue...

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I am on Couchsurfing because I hope to connect with other quirky and spirited individuals from all walks of life who are open to sharing their stories and life experiences while we partake in a nice homemade meal or venture out for a day of exploration within this little neck of the woods. My home is small and humble but it is always warm and welcoming and I can offer great home cooking with a health conscious component. I live in a small single room apartment which has a full bathroom and kitchen (but no separate living room area) my bathroom has a shower as well as a large separate old style luxury tub to soak in. I am an avid animal lover and recently just adopted a little pup of my own, the runt of the litter he is a wee little fella and his name is Yin~Yang, he is being trained to become a Therapy Dog to assist with the respite work I do with children who have Autism or developmental disabilities and as such he needs to be exposed to many new people and situations during this crucial socialization stage. I do welcome other traveling fur friends who are trained and not destructive of property and who are up to date with their shots and get along well with other small breed dogs. Mine is still a pup 9 weeks old and has not developed a habit of barking yet so that wont be an issue. There are no carpets in my apartment, only hardwood floors so this makes any mess an easy clean up. Visitor(s) would be welcome to share the room with me if comfortable enough to do so, or sleeping accommodations can be set up in the kitchen for more privacy. I am a pretty easy going gal because when considering how some very large families manage to squeeze within minimal accommodations in other areas of the world I feel that I have more than enough room to share, along with many smiles!

Interests

I am pretty eclectic in terms of interests, but basically anything involving the creative arts and expression. Echo lodge adventures, Transition Town workshops, expanding my knowledge base through story exchange with a special interest in Social Justice, Equality and Humanitarian initiatives (hence my field of study in University ~ Gender Equality and Social Justice) Graduate of the Social Service Program at the local College here in the Bay.

• animals
• arts
• culture
• photography
• music festivals
• dancing
• social action
• cooking
• traveling
• camping
• journalism
• social science
• social work
• museums

Music, Movies, and Books

Current musical flavors: Birds of Bellwood, Peter Katz (Still mind still), Peirson (Wild Ones), Birdy, Florence and the Machine, Gabrielle Aplin (English Rain), Matt and Kim. Current movie tastes: Cloud Atlas, Mr. Nobody, The Fountain, About Time, Across the Universe, I AM, What dreams may come, Samsara. Books: I will admit I start many and never seem to finish any I have 10 on the go and I have a hard time letting go so I never complete them , I am an aspiring author as well so if I read too much of one thing I tend to take on their style so I try to limit that as I work on my own projects, much of my reading is geared around my studies in University. The pregnant Virgin, Women who run with wolves, Rumi.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Well a life of adventure is something very new for me. Once upon a time I used to be a very fear filled and solitary girl who grew up in the country and hid away for most of her youth. I was always an artist and a big dreamer but due to some pretty impactfull life experiences I developed agoraphobia and became a shut in for several years while I also let my mental and physical health slip into drastic decline. I ended up weighing over 400 pounds at one point and my life seemed pretty hopeless in that moment. Then through a series of major life lessons and encounters with some pretty amazing individuals I began to embark upon a journey of change and growth. Since that time I have lost half of my body weight (with a lot of help), I have faced many fears and constantly strive to be an active member of my community, challenging my social anxieties on a continual basis. I am currently attending University and I formed my own small socially minded business which incorporates all of the things that I have learned and experienced along life's winding path so far, it helps to facilitate individual and group healing through the arts. I am continually striving to turn past lessons or pain into a treasure that can be gifted back in the form of art and humanitarian social advocacy initiatives. Also for the first time in my life I was able to embark upon a huge trip where I traveled half way across the world to spend one month in Thailand immersed within a different culture, this was a major life goal that I was finally able to embrace and it truly changed my life! One thing I know is that we have all done things that are worth sharing with others even when we may not be aware of it in the moment. It is so nice to finally feel awake and alive again, that is in and of itself is pretty amazing!

Teach, Learn, Share

I am always willing to learn and experience new things. I enjoy teaching others how to cook as well as learning from them how to prepare different kinds of cuisine. I am currently working on developing my musical abilities so that is always an area of interest for me. I enjoy sharing whatever I may have that can be of use to others and am a firm believer in the notion of what goes around comes around in all the good ways, when I give I also receive so much and I enjoy spending time with others who share this mindset and mentality.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Stories, smiles and hopefully many laughs! I have a continual eagerness to learn new things if you are willing to teach. I am respectful, helpful and willing to adapt to your environment and living habits while I am in your space. I will provide my own food or share in the grocery bill depending upon length of stay. I thank you for your willingness to host and to meet new people!

Countries I’ve Visited

Thailand, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada