CURRENT MISSION

I aim to meet people. All kinds of them.

ABOUT ME

I have recently been described as “fun.” This is quite flattering. I’ve also been referred to as “nice.” Also, I am flattered. Nice and fun are great things to be.

PHILOSOPHY

Embrace what life offers. Naps, running in the rain, soaking up the sun, outdoor seating, beer, puppies... bring it!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing is the greatest!

I am on a CS hosting hiatus at the moment while Peter and I are busy hosting a new addition to our family. Nonetheless, please reach out for questions about anything - I am happy to serve as a resource!

Interests

I love relaxing- sitting around with good people, food, and drinks and getting lost in open conversation, where no topic is taboo. I am a pretty active person and my schedule tends to get full fast, often too full for relaxing. It's vital to meet new people, and I will always make that a priority, even when I am busy. My family and friends mean the world to me. I tend to blend groups of friends and enjoy bringing people together. Want to come over for family Thanksgiving? You can meet my mom!

• dancing
• dining
• cooking
• beer
• coffee
• running
• walking
• partying
• drinking
• traveling
• eating out
• socializing
• live music
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• swimming

Music, Movies, and Books

I like the blues, and I like 'em live.

I do some work with the Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival. Movies rock.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I had a celebrity spotting, it's true. There I was, in the LAX airport, walking to my gate, when along came Richard Simmons...
Wow, I'm boring. Please join the "make Mandy's life more interesting" campaign.

Teach, Learn, Share

Not sure what you'll learn, but I'm happy to inspire you to let loose a little bit. We can talk about cognitive psychology, digestion, and other bodily processes in a semi-scholarly fashion. We can try cooking new recipes over said discussion. Maybe a dance party will ensue, and we can teach each other some new dance moves, like the mashed potato. Anything is possible.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I lived in Durham, NC in the US before moving to Germany. I was working at a refugee resettlement agency. This is definitely a hot topic with the current state of the globe, and I find that a lot of people want to discuss migration.

I am currently super lucky to be in a place in life where I have the freedom to travel. I am trying to explore Europe as much as possible while I'm here. Please share your recommendations!

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Fiji, Finland, France, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand

Countries I’ve Lived In

Germany, New Zealand, Senegal, United States

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