CURRENT MISSION

Meet people from all over, introduce my kids to the world from home, pay it forward; I spent 15 years in Japan under the tutelage of the world's greatest hosts. My turn to give.
ABOUT ME

I grew up around state schools, where my restless dad taught graphic design. loved St. John's college, where we read, discussed, and wrote about the "great books". I went to Japan in 1985, returned to the USA with three half-Japanese kids in 2000. Interviewing and translating the work of creators has been my life, along with various physical exercise that lets me enjoy being outside. For the past seven years since we moved to California, that's been rowing, sculling in particular. I loved being in a new culture, and I love sharing our incredible location with others. Mom of four kids and of many articles and books. Only one kid still at home...still in elementary school.

PHILOSOPHY

I try to interact in a meaningful way, with a focus on the community, whether it's our local community or the global one made up of real interactions among individuals. I am completely disinterested in superficial denominations of status.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I've only offered hospitality to others. When we are more free,I hope we or our kids can couch surf around the world.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE
Before "Couchsurfing" was a thing, I did it, all over the world. Glad there's a way to connect more reliably now! I highly recommend investing in the sharing economy in this manner.

Interests

Design with a purpose, rowing, Japanese culture and language, thatch around the world, positive personal/intercultural experiences that bring us together.

• culture
• books
• design
• graphic design
• documentaries
• cooking
• vegan
• exercise
• instructor
• technology
• socializing
• rowing

Music, Movies, and Books

Favorite films: The Blues Brothers, Magnolia, The Big Lebowski, Fargo, Being John Malkovitch, A Fish Called Wanda, Departures.
Best recent reads: Plutopia, Any Known Blood. I read The New Yorker religiously, enjoy The Onion. We get the NYTon the weekends.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Conceived of, found funding for, organized (including work-study and a symposium), starred in documentary about, cross-cultural (British/Japanese re-thatching of a 100 year-old Japanese farmhouse. Project included translation of British thatching Manual into Japanese.

Teach, Learn, Share

Spent 15 years in Japan without the benefit of the Internet. Now I have four kids who don't know what that would be like. I can share experiences about living in extremely rural Japan (and also Tokyo) and childrearing in an age of technology.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Conversation and vegan cooking. Japanese cuisine too!

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Canada, England, France, Japan, Singapore, Spain, Thailand

Countries I’ve Lived In

Japan, United States

•