I like to pick a new word at the start of each year, to anchor into and have as the theme for the year. This tradition works much better for me than the classic New Year’s resolutions. 2024 is INVEST. I’m investing in showing up lovingly for my students, in helping my cool rescue dog trust others, in my learning French, in going to lots of concerts. I’d like to invest in a sewing machine and learn how to make some cool clothes. I’m investing in my pursuit of soaking in hot springs and in time spent on my longboard and my surfskate board. Soon I'll start investing in next year's word.

I like fun facts, such as my favorite way to make coffee is in a mokapot. Or that I buy almost all my clothes from the thrift store. It takes a good 15 minutes to water all my plants. I am a sucker for sushi. I went to music camp this summer and started playing guitar. I think surfing is magical and love to surf anywhere other than southern California. Growing up in the High Desert gave me the gumption that I can survive anywhere. I like celebrating birthdays. I prefer doing dishes in the morning. 6:40 is my favorite time, am or pm. Seeing butterflies or cherries or pelicans brings me joy. I have an indoor hammock. My Instagram profile reads, "A love of study. A study of love." Beauty is my ikigai. Lastly, I have a pen that can write underwater. It can write other words but I just like the word underwater.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing is a tool that’s helped me to make connections, build friendships and get to know a place through the people who know it best. The older I get, the more strongly I learn that our connections with each other are what truly make this life.

Interests

I love to carve my snowboard through fresh powder. I’m kind of obsessed with stand up paddle boarding. I play guitar left-handed. Hiking and backpacking are two of my favorite things. I’m heading to Corsica to experience the GR20 with one of my favorite hiking partners in June 2025. I play chess and drums. I mess around on the piano and with a flow rope. I normally have a garden and sometimes I will take the season off. I dabble with paint, I hook with yarn, I edit with Premiere. I like to get creative.

• singing
• cooking
• yoga
• movies
• traveling
• crochet
• hiking
• backpacking
• kayaking
• camping
• surfing
• snowboarding
• skateboarding
• rock climbing
• teaching
• languages
• rivers
• mountains
• restaurants

Music, Movies, and Books

MUSIC Right now my favorite artist to go see is Boris Brejcha. I’m seeing him for the 6th time in September. He’s from Germany, has his own genre of music and is a producer who also DJs. My two favorite bands are Led Zeppelin and Sublime. I love seeing Zoso, a coverband who takes their job very seriously, as well as Greta Van Fleet. I hope to see Sublime with Rome and Bradley Nowell’s son soon, too. I saw MEUTE, this techno marching band from Germany, bwah. Any horns just sear and melt me. This weekend I saw Kings of Leon with colleagues; last weekend I saw a swing band and danced.

MOVIES I keep a running list of my top 20 movies in the notes app on my phone. There’s a few Tarantino on it as well as some M. Night Shyamalan and a bunch of movies from the 80s and 90s that practically raised me. I quote movies a lot and there’s really nothing like that moment when a well-timed line lands perfectly on people who know the reference.

BOOKS I like Brene Brown and the world of self-help and insight. I read books about educational frameworks and yogic philosophy and books full of poetry. A recent fictional favorite is Malibu Rising. A book I read two decades ago and still think of often is The History of Chocolate. I read Roald Dahl aloud to my students a lot. I have fond memories of reading every Paulo Coelho when I was younger. I’m always game for a good book reco.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

The first time I went on a multi-day solo backpacking trip was on the Lost Coast Trail. I scored a last-minute permit, filled up my brand-new bear canister and my 70L pack, and drove through the night to make it to the trailhead in time. This 25-mile trek is usually done north to south and must be done with specific timing, in order to make it through the impassable sections during low tide. The beauty of this trail is immense. The whole experience made a huge impact on me and definitely qualifies as one amazing thing I’ve done.

Teach, Learn, Share

I could lead you through a yoga nidra practice, teach you the alphabet in sign language, get you started on your first crocheted beanie, etc. You could teach me barre chords or mushroom foraging or your mad salsa dancing skills? How bout you teach me about your own unique coolness, just by being you. And we can share our specialty dishes, travel stories, and the charm of where you live in the meantime.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can share a positive mindset and gratitude with you, dear Host. I’ll share smiles and recipes and life hacks. I’ll share anything from my pile of awesome that I've collected from around the world. And I’ll do the dishes, even at night.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Italy, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Puerto Rico, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Peru, United States

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