CURRENT MISSION

To explore as much of Europe and the world before my gap year is out!

ABOUT ME

Hello everyone! I'm currently going to school at Smith College in the Pioneer Valley possibly (probably) majoring in Computer Science with a minor in East Asian Studies. I was born in France and moved to America when I was nine years old. I've done my fair share of traveling around Western Europe and have also gone on several trips around Japan.

PHILOSOPHY

My personal philosophy is that the world really is your oyster, anything is possible! There is no time like the present. Why not start chasing after your dreams now instead of waiting for the "better" circumstances? But also remember, Live and Learn!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Just trying to meet fellow CSers through events at the moment.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I met several traveling CSers while I was in Paris for a gap year before college and had great fun showing them around the parts I knew and discovering other areas of the city as well. I also stayed with some CSers during my travels through Japan some years ago.

Interests

• arts
• culture
• theater
• clothing
• traveling
• drawing
• piano
• kayaking
• paragliding

Music, Movies, and Books

"Darjeeling Limited" and anything directed by Wes Anderson, "Whisper of the Heart", "Howl's Moving Castle" ... basically anything from Studio Ghibli

"Kafka on the Shore," by Haruki Murakami; "One Hundred Years of Solitude," by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

U2, The Temptations, Modest Mouse, Gorillaz

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

During my travels around Japan, my friend and I decided to go visit Koya-san and Okunoin, the largest Buddhist cemetery in Japan. We stayed in a Buddhist temple and rose at dawn to listen to the monks chant before going out to walk in Okunoin. We were the only ones staying in the temple at the time. As we walked around the graveyard, we saw rows of monks in traditional dress and geta sandals walk past us. It was an incredible experience.

But one of the most amazing things I've ever done was deciding to go on a spontaneous trip to Switzerland with two Kiwis I'd met while traveling in Italy with my twin sister and a friend. In one day, I managed to go kayaking at dawn on an icy blue mountain lake and watch the sunrise, visit one of the biggest glacial waterfall caves in the area, go paragliding, and see a helicopter rescue. Woah.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach basic sewing skills! Both on a sewing machine and by hand! And I hope to learn how to make my own clothing. I managed to make a dress from a pattern once, though I had a lot of help... hehehe

I can also help people practice their French or English! and I'm looking to practice my Spanish and Japanese :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Canada, France, Guatemala, India, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, India, Japan, United States