Greetings from the beautiful Pacific Northwest! My name is Melissa and I am a choir teacher (in my third year), orchestra teacher (first year), ballet accompanist (third year as well), and piano teacher (12th year!). Music is a core part of my life, it just happened that way! I grew up with various animals around me and love dogs incredibly. With my busy work schedule right now the best I can do is having a cat, Blewett (named after a mountain pass... long story), who acts like a dog.

Pourquoi je suis sur Couchsurfing

I am on couch surfing because I love to travel and I believe that true travel means getting to know people and experiencing a new culture from the inside out. I do not believe in going somewhere and treating the people and culture like a museum piece, something to be stared and squinted at. I hate looking like a tourist! When I travel I want to hear others' stories and share my own.

Centres d'intérêt

I have far too many interests to be kept up all at once but I will do my best at listing them and going into detail on the main (or currently main) ones. I enjoy playing the piano alone and with other musicians, teaching, kayaking, drawing, watercolor, composing, singing in choirs, reading, Bible study, animals and animal care/training, volunteering, driving, writing, playing the harp, marine conservation, spinning (yes, with a spinning wheel), knitting, quilting (no I am not a 80-year-old grandma), black and white photography, children's picture books, ballet, yoga, Cuong Nhu, remodeling, gardening, cooking and last but not least, baking!

Currently I mostly only have time for yoga, ballet, Bible study and piano. Right now I am focusing on gaining more strength and being able to do the splits (in yoga). In piano I am working on becoming more diverse in my improvising skills. When I can, I will cook/bake on the weekends. I work a lot! Once I month I go to a ballet or a concert (usually a solo piano or orchestra concert) of some kind to refresh my soul.

• animals
• cats
• dogs
• culture
• writing
• books
• singing
• photography
• concerts
• ballet dancing
• cooking
• baking
• yoga
• gardening
• reading
• traveling
• animal care
• knitting
• drawing
• music
• piano
• kayaking
• surfing
• teaching
• volunteering

Morceaux de musique, films et livres

As a musician I try not to get into a rut with my musical tastes and as a middle school choir teacher I try to keep up with whatever music my students are putting in their ears. That said, I love to listen to jazz and go to orchestra concerts. Debussy, Ravel and Albéniz are my favorite composers. And of course, Bach. My guilty pleasure is Taylor Swift.

I love to read but I am so busy these days that I have ventured into the uncharted waters of audio books. A few of my favorite books for the younger set are Pride and Prejudice, Ella Enchanted (I am a child at heart and I've read it nine times), 101 Dalmatians, My Side of the Mountain, and any P. G. Wodehouse book.

My favorite movies include Roman Holiday (with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck!), White Christmas (Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney...), Mostly Martha, and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.

When I can, I like to watch documentaries, my favorites have been: Born into Brothels, First Position, and Ballerina.

Une aventure extraordinaire que j'ai vécue

Make it to age 28. Sometimes I wonder! Other than that, nothing springs to mind. When I was 9 years old I rode 30 miles around a lake. Also tripped over a banister from a second story and fell -uninjured- in a perfect side drop. Surviving to 28 is a big deal. ;)

Enseignez, apprenez, partagez

I love to teach, I LOVE to learn, and I will share just about anything!

Ce que j'aimerais partager avec mes hôtes

I can share my music and all the funny stories that have been passed down in my family over the years. If you have a piano, all the better. I absolutely adore cooking for others so I'd love to make and share meals!

Pays que j'ai visités

Cambodia, Canada, Honduras, Iceland, Mexico, Myanmar, Norway, Thailand

Pays dans lesquels j'ai vécu

Norway, United States