ABOUT ME

I work as a National Park Service park guide in the heart of a city! With so much history, Boston has really expanded my world view, and also improved critical thinking regarding the history I am learning. But I'm still a hippie at heart.

I grew up frightfully shy which slowly wore off, but occasionally it shines through. It isn't necessarily a bad quality, but more difficult to express myself. I like hearing stories, and sharing ideas. I haven't found anything that I've gotten single minded over, but I see it as an opportunity to experience new things. I am an explorer.

I really love fish and fish biology and water. I grew up very inland (Wisconsin) and identified with forest types of environments, but I have worked off and on for two years on commercial fishing boats in Alaska for the government, which one could say, made me dive right into marine life!

PHILOSOPHY

It is always reforming; however, I believe in destiny - not coincidence.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

My first big adventure came four years ago when I went from Minneapolis to Atlanta to hike the Appalachian Trail. I surfed in Chicago, Atlanta and Cumming. It was great! I also went to my first official couchsurfing event meeting the great Atlanta couchsurfing community. It would not have been anything like it was without my friends opening their arms to me.

I had two big chances to travel outside of Kenya while studying abroad there. Both experiences were so memorable for the couchsurfing companions I had in Tanzania and Ethiopia. I got a more authentic taste of the culture, exchanged philosophical thoughts and successfully avoided 95% of tourist traps.

Interests

biking, ultimate frisbee, reading, gardening/fresh food, the environment, exploring, MUSIC, hiking, mycology (fungi), cooperative living, micro finance and learning new things, figuring out Kiswahili for myself. I'm learning how to allow myself naps in the daytime and slowing down from my American upbringing. Also some healthy soil under my fingernails.

• culture
• environment
• dining
• walking
• drinking
• gardening
• reading
• traveling
• minimalism
• music
• cycling
• hiking
• rock climbing

Music, Movies, and Books

Wes Anderson, Twin Peaks, Lost. MUSIC, where to start?!? If you really want to know much more, ask me!

I love semi-existentialist books. If on a Winter's Night a Traveler, Season of Migration to the North, Roald Dahl because he made me dream as a child, The Good Earth, Half the Sky

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Amazement is subjective and often overlooked, but since couchsurfing asked, my thought goes to Arusha, Tanzania. With my awesome couchsurfing host, Michael, I walked along the foothills of the Meru mountain. We walked for a couple hours as the sun began to fall until we reached one main hill that had a waterfall deeper in the forest below. All the stones were green with moss, all was fresh and peaceful. After climbing down a sharp path, walking along a river and turning around boulders we reached the most -amazing- waterfall falling who knows how many meters. The walk back was at dusk and two motorbikes were awaiting us. It was dark now and I rode on the small bike down the mountainside as silhouettes of over motorbikes were pitched through the dust from the headlights. It was an amazing moment after an amazing trip.

Teach, Learn, Share

Smiles, to whistle, my music library

What I Can Share with Hosts

My traveling stories, a good meal or drinks, an open mind, facts about fish

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Ethiopia, Iceland, Kenya, Mexico, Tanzania, Turkey

Countries I’ve Lived In

Kenya, United States