I am an artist, writer, foodie, student and eventual educator. I love nothing more than getting to really know people and share stories, food, live music, and random adventures. I'm an extrovert that feeds on picking brains, not in a crow or zombie way. It's for my art.
I have disability from damage to my spinal cord that causes me to use a hiking stick when I'm traveling, but stairs are no problem (my house is 3 stories). Traveling Europe on my own after graduating university was extremely liberating and taught me how capable and strong I am.

"It is not true that people stop pursuing dreams because they grow old, they grow old because they stop pursuing dreams."
-Gabriel García Marquez

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I only started really traveling in the last 2 years and I am hooked. I have stayed in hostels, hotels, airbnb, and with family, and I am interested in meeting more local people and experiencing the places I travel through a cultural lens. I have received couchsurfers and shared accommodations with other people and each experience was full of great conversation, food, and friendship. I can't wait to host more travelers and meet hosts on my own travels.

Interests

Arts, writing, community involvement, learning, teaching, photography, cooking whole foods, wine, and of course travel. I am currently pursuing a graduate degree, running a residential art gallery from my basement, volunteering, making and submitting art, taking lots of pictures, planning my next travels, and writing a book. I still find time to get out to plenty of the amazing fun things there are to do in Portland!

• arts
• writing
• books
• photography
• causes
• dining
• cooking
• wine
• running
• traveling
• music
• live music
• hiking
• teaching
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

I am a musicians daughter and listen to a lot of music, slowly working on my vinyl collection. Favorites are indy, sub-pop, anything with a blues core, like Black Keys, Jack White, The Heavy, too many to list really. I have a penchant for the old r&b and soul classics and a leftover love of the 70's.

As far as screen time I'll watch stuff if it's good and sometimes if it's not, but I prefer real-life people.

I read. A lot. Mostly non-fiction though lately I've been enjoying the free classics on my Kindle.

I'm addicted to podcasts.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I traveled to the UK during Christmas 2014 to meet my half sister for the first time, as we shared a dad but she grew grew up in England. It was my first trip out of the US . My daughter was studying abroad there and we had an amazing holiday with new family across the pond. Last spring I graduated college and went on a four country European vacation, accompanied by my sis in Paris. I am hooked and am starting the plans for a trip to Italy after I am done with my grad program. Traveling really has completely changed my life.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I am clean, fastidious and respectful and am always up for cooking and great conversation.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, England, France, Ireland, Netherlands, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States