My name is Mary and I'm an animator and illustrator, usually doing some travel for freelance. Trying to figure out the next place for me to plant myself! I am from Eugene, Oregon and currently live in Denver, Colorado.

I of course love fine art, but am also interested in every time of creative expression! Dance, writing, performance, music, etc. I love gardening, hiking, keeping up on television, and having nice long conversations over dinner (as long as I can be sure to get some reasonable sleep after traveling!!)

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I want to make sure that wherever I travel, I do so in a way that is engaged and respectful towards the cities and communities I'm visiting. Though I love sightseeing and doing big fun things in cities, the most important part about any travel will always be the people you meet.

Interests

Here's some of my art! http://www.maryvertulfo.com/

• arts
• singing
• performing arts
• beauty
• dancing
• cooking
• running
• partying
• comics
• traveling
• socializing
• painting
• drawing
• music
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• hiking
• art history
• history
• art
• drawings

Music, Movies, and Books

I listen to a lot of folk music, the music culture where I am from is so diverse! If I can dance it, I'm totally in!
Wherever I travel I bring a book and my art supplies! So if you have an inspiring read to recommend, send it my way! I'd love to share my current read with you!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I've run 3 half marathons! (Although if you asked me to run a mile today I don't think I could, haha).

Teach, Learn, Share

I want to teach others the value of creativity. We are all creative, and I want to help people realize how valuable we are all to the community, in so many different ways! Anything about art, music, or creativity in any for of expression is very important to me.

I hope that I can learn about a city from someone who appreciates it for the reasons it is great to live in, not just visit. Some cities are fun to visit (Las Vegas, Manhattan) but I find that the reasons people LIVE and VISIT places are completely different!

What I Can Share with Hosts

I hope that I can share with my hosts a mutual optimism and enthusiasm about the joy of traveling, meeting new people and having new experiences! I also love to lead impromptu sing alongs, dance parties, and share stories about travelling.

I would also be open to cooking a meal for hosts, given I have a bit of time and resources! My parents raised me with cuisine both classic American as well as Filipino so I can usually come up with a fun meal and enjoy it with new friends with an honest conversation.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Costa Rica, Denmark, England, Germany, Northern Ireland, Philippines, Spain, Sweden, Thailand

Countries I’ve Lived In

England, United States