My job as an environmental educator at a science center, where I teach kids about water, energy, and poop, is coming to an end. With no future employment lined up, no romantic relationships, no house payments, and no children, what better time is there to travel!

I am a curious, thoughtful, and respectful person. Thanks to my educational background I'm inquisitive about the natural world: living things, rocks, landscapes, other planets. But I'm also intrigued by how people fit into these systems, especially differences between cultures, political systems, beliefs, and language. Especially language. I enjoy reading and writing immensely.

I am comfortable in the kitchen, will tag along on any adventures, and will gladly share my thoughts on American and global politics, history, climate change, education, and Kanye West.

If you'd like to know more about me, please ask! Or, check out my travel blog: siberiaminusthes.wordpress.com

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Growing up, my parents hosted exchange students through Rotary International. Our home was always open to a teenager studying in the United States and I grew very close with many of them.

Two years ago, I traveled on a study abroad to Thailand and lived there for 6 months. During that time I had the opportunity to learn Thai and live for weeks at a time in the homes of local villagers. The opportunity to build lasting relationships with locals, who housed and fed me, was far more educational than my coursework in development and globalization.

By couchsurfing I hope to make new friends and see their hometowns from their perspective--something that no hostel can offer. And in the future, I look forward to offering the same experience to anyone visiting my home (once I have one)!

Interests

Anything that creeps, crawls, walks or flies, but especially things that swim. Things that get me outdoors, especially sailing, hiking, and rock climbing. I love going to movies and live music (honestly anything, but especially folk, bluegrass, hip-hop, and indie rock). I could spend a whole day in an art, history, or science museum, doesn't matter. Libraries and bookstores are also some of my favorite places. I have a serious caffeine addiction, so cafes are good too. Bars, with good drinks and dancing, are welcome too.

• arts
• culture
• writing
• books
• literature
• dancing
• education
• cooking
• breakfast
• drinking
• politics
• technology
• movies
• reading
• traveling
• blogging
• music
• live music
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• sailing
• rock climbing
• american football
• soccer
• swimming
• astronomy
• biology
• teaching
• history
• science
• study abroad

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: I'm a big fan of Mac DeMarco, Frank Ocean, Janelle Monae, and Beyonce.
Anything that can be danced to is welcome.

Movies
This summer: Mad Max Fury Road
All time: Star Wars 4-6, Lord of the Rings, Monty Python
I also appreciate dystopian sci-fi (Black Mirrors), weird documentaries (The Search for General Tso), murder mysteries, Quentin Tarantino, the X-files, Twilight Zone, and Zoolander.

Books
I have very few possessions I care about, except for my books. I love books. I enjoy the surreal fiction of japanese authors Haruki Murakami and Banana Yoshimoto, the magical realism of Gabo and Isabelle Allende, the bizarre characters of Annie Proulx, the short stories of Italo Calvino, the gritty sparseness of Cormac McCarthy, and the stylish epics of Steinbeck and Kesey.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I spent 23 days driving to Anchorage, Alaska from Seattle, Washington by myself. I slept in a tent every night, ate the same thing for breakfast (oatmeal), lunch (apples, clif bars), and dinner (soup from a bag). I was sucked on by leeches and mosquitoes, attacked by an owl, befriended by a raven, spotted some beavers, camped in grizzly country, and encountered a lot of moose.

A month later I crewed on a tugboat and saw the whole thing again, but from the water.

It was isolating a difficult, but also spectacular and liberating.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach you about marine life, outer space, water, climate change, and poop. Whatever you want to know.

I can share American customs, or help with learning English slang. I can also teach you enough phrases to get by in Thailand.

I can teach you the basics of sailing, how to throw an american football, and how to take a jump shot.

We can talk pop culture, films, international politics, technology, literature, biology, the future.

I am more than willing to cook, clean, and tag along.

What I Can Share with Hosts

--Biology, astronomy, climate change, science talk
--American customs and English slang, Thai customs and phrases
--Intelligent conversation with an American who is pro-immigration, women's rights, economic equality, and social justice
--Cooking, cleaning
--Books, stories, tall tales
--A laid back attitude and willingness to try virtually anything

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, England, Mexico, Scotland, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Thailand, United States