CURRENT MISSION

In "normal life re-entry" phase after many months backpacking in Asia!! :D

ABOUT ME

I love and am fascinated by people from different places and cultures. I am drawn to people who take the road less traveled in life, I am always interested to hear their stories. I seem to have a natural curiousity about other people's lives in general that I thought I would grow out of, but that doesn't seem to be the case :) It has only grown stronger. I have just returned from my backpacking trip through Nepal, India, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia! I was on the road from Oct 2011 to May 2012. It was fantastic. Now the chips are landing and I am sorting myself out geography & job-wise once again...

PHILOSOPHY

"I think Western culture has things backwards. We equate comfort with happiness, and now we are so comfortable we're miserable. There's no struggle in our life, no sense of adventure. I've found that I'm never more alive than when I'm pushing and I'm in pain and I'm struggling for high achievement. In that struggle, I think there's a magic. Unless you're pushing yourself, you're not living to the fullest. You can't be afraid to fail, but unless you fail, you haven't pushed enough. If you look at successful people and happy people, they fail a lot because they're constantly trying to go further and expand."
--Dean Karnazes, "Outside," Jan. 2007 issue (I think this guy has a point!)

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.
Helen Keller

"There is no use trying," said Alice; "one can't believe impossible things." "I dare say you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." -Lewis Carroll

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I am currently crashing with my parents in between world travels and my next career move. I am usually living in a place where I can host (and hope that will be the case again soon). Now I can meet for coffee and I will pass on my knowledge and inspirations of places I have visited and share my city with those interested.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Intermediate! It has been incredible. I have met some amazing people.

Interests

I enjoy exercise and the outdoors. I have been cycling a lot lately and I have tried climbing for awhile. I ride horses weekly. I love to meet people from other places.

• horses
• culture
• cooking
• breakfast
• coffee
• exercise
• traveling
• socializing
• magic
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• backpacking
• rock climbing
• geography
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

I am not a movies person but have recently read and loved High Fidelity by Nick Hornby. I have mostly been reading non fiction ;)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Last fall I quit my job and left America for my dream of Asian travels from Oct 2011 to May 2012. I climbed in Nepal, traveled in India for 3 months and then headed to Southeast Asia before returning home. It was a dream of mine to feel complete traveling freedom and I am just settling back into "normal" life for the next bit.

Teach, Learn, Share

I know a decent amount of French. I can take people out on bike rides around the area and know how to fix flats and general bike safety things. I would love to learn other languages, ethnic cooking, etc.

Countries I’ve Visited

Czech Republic, France, Germany, Honduras, India, Mexico, Nepal, Spain

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, United States

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