Hello/Bonjour! I'm a philosophy/literature graduate student on exchange in Paris teaching English at a university and working on a translation and thesis.

Usually, I live in Albuquerque, NM, where I:

1) Building an experimental environmental project called we.grow.eco. We pick up trash, do experiential education with students, and organize community-unifying arts events that encourage people to think more critically about the ways we act and interact with and within our ecosystem. Our website is www.wegroweco.org just in case.

2) Study French and German literature and philosophy – in particular about the culture industry – and am developing a project on queer iconoclastic AIDS-era writer Guillaume Dustan, who I am also translating.

...

I'm a Massachusetts-raised nature nut, book nerd, and musician/music lover. Since graduating from college in Connecticut, I taught English in Toulouse, France, taught environmental science at an outdoor school in the mountains of California, did some photo work in Mexico City, homeschooled a kid/did lots of local organizing back in Boston during COVID, then supported my friend as he walked across the country picking up trash with locals. Chauncey in my photos is the one who walked, we started an environmental education non-profit together in New Mexico afterward.

I am fairly outgoing and active and enjoy exploring outdoors, traveling to new places, broadening my community, doing yoga, deepening my Zen meditation practice, reading books, and working on my own writing, music, and photography.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I've found CS to be the most enjoyable way to travel. With each trip, I not only discover more of the world, but also meet more of the wonderful people in the CS community. I'm here for the unique type of exchange that CS offers. When I visit or host, I like to spend time together cooking, exploring, talking, etc.

Interests

• writing
• photography
• yoga
• running
• meditation
• guitar
• piano
• hiking
• teaching
• tea
• film photography
• jamming
• journaling

Music, Movies, and Books

I love quirky novels, autofiction and autotheory, and critical theory. Some of my favorites include 'Minima Moralia’ by Theodor Adorno, 'Génie Divin' by Guillaume Dustan, ‘Autoportrait' by Édouard Levé, 'La chambre claire' by Roland Barthes, 'Testo Junkie' by Paul B Preciado, 'Congo Inc.' by In Koli Jean Bofane, and 'The Argonauts' by Maggie Nelson.

And some of my favorite music, in no particular order: Grouper, The Caretaker, Mac Demarco, Kendrick Lamar, Beach House, Tyler the Creator, Dirty Projectors, Slow Club, Panda Bear, Feist, Beach Fossils, Frank Ocean, Father John Misty, FKA Twigs, Beach Boys, Mitski, The Beatles, Joni Mitchell, Angel Olsen, Grimes, (Sandy) Alex G, Frankie Cosmos, Tame Impala, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, King Krule, Blood Orange, Kanye, James Blake, J Dilla, D'Angelo, Caribou, Devandra Banhart, Bombay Bicycle Club, Chopin, Debussy, Atlas Sound, Deerhunter, Stereolab, Gal Costa, SOPHIE, Marvin Gaye, Darondo, Charli XCX, Big Thief, Khruangbin, Daedelus, Machinedrum, Al Green, Nicolas Jaar, JPEGMAFIA, Alice Coltrane, Dorothy Ashby, Judee Sill, Ted Lucas...

For movies, I'm a fan of French nouvelle vague (Tati, Truffaut, Godard), Pedro Costa, Wes Anderson, Paul Thomas Anderson, and David Lynch. My favorite TV shows are typically irreverent but with heart and include Arrested Development, Bojack Horseman, and most importantly, Spongebob.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I went on a spontaneous week-long hitchhiking and camping trip in the French Pyrénées with my first-ever CS guest!

Teach, Learn, Share

I'm always looking to exchange book and music recommendations, travel stories, and a cup of tea.

I can teach you some chords on the guitar or piano and some elementary music theory, some helpful journaling/mindfulness practices, and give a crash course on French or English grammar (I have taught both languages).

What I Can Share with Hosts

I looove to clean (seriously, just let me loose on your kitchen or bathroom), and would love to help out around the house in any way. Also down to cook a communal vegetarian/vegan meal :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, Mexico, United States