Hey Couchsurfers! I'm an American college student at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. I am currently studying International Relations and Environmental Earth Science and hope to one day protect the environment that I love so much! I love hiking, scenic views, climbing, anything that involves adventure, MUSIC, traveling, meeting new people and hearing about the unique stories they have to share, drinking and discovering new cool beers, and FOOD! I loveeee to cook and love learning new recipes and cuisines. I also play hockey for my college and am crazy about the Nashville Predators, the professional hockey team from my hometown, Nashville, Tennessee.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm on Couchsurfing to get an experience that I wouldn't otherwise have. I love learning about people, seeing how similar and different people and cultures are, and connecting with people I would never meet if I didn't use Couchsurfing. I feel that Couchsurfing provides an opportunity not only to see how locals from an area live, but also to establish a relationship after the adventure ends! Basically, meeting new people is the best way to experience the world we live in!

Interests

LOVE food, hockey, hiking, music, languages, and photography! I will eat anything that I haven't tried before, and then I will want to learn how to cook it! I've played hockey since I was a kid and have grown up watching the sport, so if you love hockey, we will get along great. I believe hiking is the best way to enjoy nature, as we tend to rely too much on technology and vehicles to get from one place to another, missing some amazing places just a little hike away. I have played piano and guitar for years and love basically any type of music out there! Although I have yet to master a language other than English, I'm always trying to learn new ones as much as I can! Languages are a staple to cultures and I want to learn them to learn about new cultures and communicate with the amazing people who speak them around the world! I love shooting film photography (I use a Canon AE-1 Program). It really allows you to focus on what you find beauty in and wait and watch what you want to photograph, unlike iPhones where you can take as many photos as you want without focusing on why you want to capture an image. The restrictions of film help me appreciate the beauty of the subjects I photograph.

• culture
• photography
• beauty
• mardi gras
• environment
• dining
• cooking
• recipes
• beer
• partying
• drinking
• technology
• traveling
• cars
• music
• guitar
• piano
• hiking
• hunting
• sports
• rock climbing
• hockey
• earth science
• international relations
• languages
• science

Music, Movies, and Books

My favorite music: Such a tough question to answer because I'm always switching the music I listen to based on the mood I'm in, but if I had to narrow it down I would say my favorite is Alternative, Folk, or Blues. Jimi Hendrix inspired me to play guitar so the blues have a special place in my heart. I love bands like Typhoon, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lord Huron, the Lumineers, Of Monsters and Men, and many more! (and oh my are there so many more!)

My favorite movies: My favorite all-time movie has to be either The Godfather or The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (an American classic!) I love almost every type of movie (except maybe horror unless it's really good like the Shining), and my favorite movie that I saw last year was either The Revenant or The Hateful Eight (I love Quentin Tarantino movies!)

My favorite books: My favorite books are The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque, A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway, and No Country For Old Men by Cormac McCarthy. I'm a big fan of the 007 series by Ian Fleming, the Harry Potter series, and always wish I read more than I do!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

One amazing thing that I've done is doing service in a small community called Cielo outside of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Not only did I get the opportunity to help build a playground for a school and a house for a local, I got to interact with some of the most loving and happiest people who made me appreciate how beautiful life is. I also had the opportunity to sponsor a young girl and provide for her to attend the local school. Knowing that I have made such a positive impact on someone's life means the world to me, and if I were to die tomorrow, I would know that I helped make someone's life better. I got to meet her family, which was such an amazing experience! I talked in Spanish (or tried to!) to her mom and brother and learn about them, which inspired me to always learn about people before judging.

Other than the Dominican Republic, the most amazing thing that I get to do every year is enjoy the six day party that is Mardi Gras in New Orleans! It is the most ridiculous, crazy, exhilarating, tiring, and life-changing party you will ever attend, and I am lucky to get to do it for four years in a row during my college years in one of the coolest cities in the United States!

Teach, Learn, Share

One thing I can teach the hosts I stay with is what's unique about me and how every different person has their own unique story about how they arrived at where they currently are in life. I hope to learn from hosts about their own unique lives, and the wacky and interesting aspects of their culture that are both different and similar to my own way and interesting culture!

What I Can Share with Hosts

First, I will share my respect and appreciation for my hosts by following their house rules, helping with cooking or cleaning, and making sure I respect them and will make sure to stop doing anything that bothers them. I can share my own stories about where I come from, my aspirations, my views on the world, and a great experience with whomever my host is! I also want to share a piece of my hometown and want to give my hosts souvenirs from Nashville, Tennessee as a big thank you for their generosity and a way to remember an amazing time. I love showing and sharing parts of where I come from and although the souvenir may be small, it holds big sentimental value (Also, hosts you are always welcome to visit me in Nashville or New Orleans! I love showing people around my cities!) Lastly, I can share my love of cooking with hosts! I think it's always courteous to offer either drinks or cooking to someone willing and generous enough to open their doors for you, and food is a way people can connect and share different cultures!

Countries I’ve Visited

Dominican Republic

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States