CURRENT MISSION

live life to the fullest - it's short

ABOUT ME

I was born and raised on Long Beach Island, New Jersey and moved to Hawaii (O'ahu) when I was 18 and graduated from the University of Hawaii at 23 with a bachelors in Environmental Studies. I was lucky enough to complete an internship in Tahiti, French Polynesia in 2004.
After graduating college I joined the peace corps and served in the environmental sector in Benin, west Africa in 2006-2007. Came back to Hawai'i, worked then lived in Bangkok, Thailand and taught kindergarten at an international school. Taught kindergarten in Taiwan and got to learn some Chinese(2011) and backpack for 5 months around Asia and Europe.
2014 - My job is ending in Hawaii so I'm taking the opportunity to backpack around Europe for 10 weeks. Oct 3 to about Dec 10. Start in Sweden, and no definite plans yet.

PHILOSOPHY

I wish I could live in the moment, but I'm always planning the next step.

I have a restless soul, and it is fun to try to satisfy!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I met a group of avid couchsurfers in Hong Kong over Chinese New Year, and was convinced to try it out while looking for a job and an apartment in Kaohsiung.

Had amazing CS experiences as a surfer in Europe, and have hosted many people in my beach house in Hawaii.

I really like to host people who are close to my age.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I like to stay with locals when I travel to get an authentic taste of the culture.

I've had many experiences of this sort, at first through people I know, and now many through CS.

Interests

Surfing (on waves in the ocean:), bodysurfing, swimming, snorkeling, SCUBA, sailing, hiking, reading, cooking, partying, and traveling, of course.

• culture
• chinese new year
• dining
• cooking
• partying
• reading
• traveling
• hiking
• backpacking
• surfing
• scuba diving
• snorkeling
• sailing
• skiing
• snowboarding
• swimming
• environmental studies
• religion
• beaches

Music, Movies, and Books

Pulp Fiction, Clan of the Cavebear series, Eat Pray Love, The Alchemist

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

sunrise at Bora bora summit, Pipeline Masters Triple Crown, Whale Sharks and Manta Rays in the Similan Islands, Ankor Wat, Kangaroos in the wild, 23 people crammed into an African taxi.

The Sky Burial near Tibet.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach people how to cook thai food, surf, swim and look on the bright side of life. I can teach some French, and I'm good at teaching kids how to read.
Learned a little Chinese in Taiwan - it was thankfully enough to get by in China.

I'd like to learn how to ski and snowboard while I'm in Europe. I'd like to become fluent in French again, and learn more about different religions.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Belgium, Benin, Cambodia, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, French Polynesia, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Italy, Laos, Malaysia, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, United States, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States

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