CURRENT MISSION

Professionally: To equip my students with the character, critical work habits, and sense of personal responsibility to succeed in school, at work, and in society.

Personally: To travel the world.

ABOUT ME

Greetings!

I am currently a third grade teacher and (finally!) no longer a student, as I just finished my Master of Arts in Teaching. I love to educate and inspire young kids not only about the things found in textbooks, but about much more in this world. Even though I currently teach, I am that crazy person that dreams about quitting her job and traveling the world long-term ...

When I am not teaching, I love to run, read, play/watch tennis, try new foods, and of course, travel. I may also enjoy drinking wine on the reg. :-)

LIFELONG PHILOSOPHIES

1. Travel is an investment in life in that it generates returns like experience, stories, contentment, and skills that will broaden your perception of what you are capable of doing.

2. Go big or go home.

3. If you want something, go get it.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

There are several ways one can travel. Some people prefer to see the major attractions in a country and enjoy the comfort of a hotel. Some people prefer to take a mere backpack on their journey and experience a country through cultural experiences in locals' homes or hostels. I think the latter creates a much more meaningful experience in a country and really opens the eyes of the explorer, and that is ultimately why I joined the couchsurfing movement.

I like to believe I am at a happy medium between the two extremes described above. :-) While seeing the sights is nice, I am quite keen on experiencing a country the local way and immersing myself into a culture with the people I meet along the way. But, as a teacher and as a traveler, as long as people are excited to learn about new cultures and places, I do not think it makes a difference how they do it. Just get out and explore this amazing world! :-)

I am excited to meet people all over the world and hope to share many memorable experiences with some of you!

Interests

Running, playing tennis, hiking, reading, shopping, and of course, traveling!

• arts
• culture
• chocolate
• running
• shopping
• reading
• traveling
• socializing
• hiking
• sports
• tennis
• teaching

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Armin van Buuren, Cosmic Gate, Martin Garrix, Tiësto ... You get the idea. If I cannot dance or run to it (meaning the song is too slow) it probably is not my favorite.

Books: Mobutu, Mandela, and Me is one of my favorite books. I love to read nonfiction books, particularly about different cultures and travel.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I do not think I can put just one item in this section, so here are a few of my favorites:

- Hiked some of the Cinque Terre trails
- Hiked through Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia (Absolutely stunning!)
- Walked along the Great Wall of China
- Walked alongside and took care of elephants for a day at Elephant Nature Reserve in Thailand
- Was fortunate enough to see Roger Federer play a match before this tennis great retires (I love the sport!)
- Zip-lined through the rainforest in Costa Rica

Teach, Learn, Share

I am quite keen on trying new things and meeting new people. Some of my best memories and some of the most inspirational people I have ever met have come from total strangers that just happened to be traveling in the same place at the same time as me.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I make the BEST chocolate chip cookies so if you have a sweet tooth, I am confident I could bring you some sweet treats to thank you for hosting me. :-) (Well, maybe. If we meet on the first leg of my trip, then it is probably possible. :]) Additionally, I have lots of great stories to share and am a very energetic, organized, and fun person. I enjoy talking to people and learning about their cultures and perspectives.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, England, France, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, Northern Ireland, Norway, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, Vatican City State

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States