CURRENT MISSION

To empower our youth (educator), learn from our youth (student), discover new things, lands, ideas (travel, run, bike ect), and help improve this world (workin' on it).

ABOUT ME

I am a creature of habit that likes breaking them. Capricious, spunky by character, and steadfast, strong by virtue. I love training for triathlons in the summer, riding my bike as much as possible, eating delicious ice cream frequently, and exploring whatever random frontier I can find. I am a lover of all four seasons, with special emphasis on winter - don't know WHAT I do without skiing. Love making turns in fresh white fluff!

Teaching is what makes all the other professions possible - so, I love what I do! I am constantly trying to steal, re-design the crazy methods of my pedagogy to take it to the next level.

When I am not teaching, skiing, biking ect, I am often traveling during the summer months or spending quality time with family and friends. I love to explore the unknown, and have a fairly large appetite for spontaneous adventures!

A quote I live by: "The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars. . ." ~Jack Kerouac

PHILOSOPHY

"Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the round pegs in the square holes, the ones who see things differently. They are not fond of rules, and have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, glorify, vilify, or dignify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because, they change things. They push the human race forward. And, while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do."

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Hosting, surfing, mixers, group trips. . .many things.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Hosted more than surfed just yet. But, on the verge to change that in the near future. :)

Interests

Just shake it. Sticky foods are rad. Black-eyed Susans and sunflowers are my favorite flowers. I thrive on coffee with one to two shots of expresso with no sugar or sweetners. I dance to almost any music playing. I love to create art of almost any kind. I like anything vintage. I cook, and I do it quite well. I love sunsets as much as I love sunrises. Pause for the cause. Love the unexpected. Live in the moment.

Other interests: the movers and shakers (those who can present a challenge, shift my thinking, get the ball rollin'), pleasant smells, key lime pie, neon colored clothing (bring back the 80's - 100%), new skis (this takes first place), POWDER.

People who show great respect for others; appreciation for all the little things. Those who are thoughtful, intelligent.

• arts
• poetry
• design
• perfumes
• dancing
• education
• cooking
• beer
• coffee
• running
• clothing
• flowers
• technology
• traveling
• music
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• hiking
• surfing
• skiing
• teaching
• science

Music, Movies, and Books

Many. Too many. Here are just a few:

The Giving Tree
Bailey's Cafe
Mama Day
Everything is Illuminated
Caucasia
The Flower Man
The Things They Carried

Movies: Amelie, Little Miss Sunshine, Spitfire Grill, The Last King of Scotland, The Lottery, Dead Poets Society, Instinct, Good Morning Vietnam, Blazing Saddles, River Runs Through It, Tootsie, Sherlock Holmes, and many many more. . .

Music. Almost everything: alternative, rock, oldies, some pop (not all), bluegrass, blues, classical. Some of my favorite groups: Florence and the Machine, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Iron and Wine, Thievery Corporation, Temper Trap, The Flaming Lips, Junior Brown, Jurassic 5, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Gogol Bordello, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Beck, Van Morrison, Tom Petty, Queen, Ska and so much more. . .

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

The most amazing thing I have seen, bar-none, was the Basilica of Guadalupe and surrounding gardens in Mexico City.

I have been all over Mexico (need travel tips, ideas, let me know), the Caribbean, lived in Nova Scotia for some summers and traveled through almost all of the provinces, been in most states. . .

Teach, Learn, Share

I know and have friends in many cities of the US - if you ever want to get connected with some rad people, let me know. I love to eat, so know of many deliciuos restaurants. Also, know of many places to ski and hike/explore mother nature outdoors!

As my students would say, "What didn't you do in your twenties, Ms. C?" I have had many different career paths, from creating commercials for Aflac, Herbal Essence, to working as a Bio-tech scientist creating hemostatic patches. Honestly, I haven't done much considering the short time I have been here. But, I have done some pretty nifty things. No regrets. Not a single one. So, please ask away and if we connect on these random things, I would love to learn from you! I stumbled through most of these careers unexpectedly, with a little serendipidity along the way ;)

Most important, I am a passionate teacher who has, in past, taught in Teach for America on the Tex-Mex border, started my own charter school with four other colleagues and principal, and taught poetry at an NGO in India to fourth graders. If you would like to chat over a cup of coffee/beer about education, I would be most intrigued. (I am a total nerd, love to read the newspaper, and stay up to speed on education and what's workin', not workin', or what should be workin'.)

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Iceland, India, Jamaica, Mexico

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, India, United States

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