CURRENT MISSION

See more, do more, be more! But sometimes, just be.

ABOUT ME

With my first long-term solo backpacking experience behind me (Europe, mostly Eastern), Im eagerly looking forward to round 2 - SE Asia. Go bigger, or stay home! Most people in my daily life find it kind of crazy that I would take a trip by myself to places I've never been and where I don't know a single soul. ..I think I kind of like that they feel that way. ;) I see it as a grand adventure, and a huge opportunity to learn about myself and my own strengths and weaknesses. I have a deep appreciation and awe for the natural wonders of this world and my travels tend to take me to such places. I will happily spend hours trying photograph the beauty of the places around me. I love meeting new people, and hearing their stories and words of wisdom. Seeing how they live a life different from mine. I love the differences. While I'm here it's my goal to take in as much as I possibly can and to learn from every situation, person, and place I encounter along the way. To share with so many back home the kindness that can be found in the world. I hope to spread the message that despite the differences in our lives, really we are all more alike than many realize.

Looking forward to it.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm quick to tell, especially my female friends, how this form of travel has opened amazing doors for me. Doors which lead to future friends and not sterile hotel rooms; To family dinners instead of tripadvisor restaurants. Are you there to SEE the country for what it is? Couchsurfing is one of the greatest gifts us travelers have. I'm incredibly thankful to so many who have shared so much with me!

Interests

I love learning (just about) anything that is foreign to me. Especially food, I have a great big interest in how the world eats, and it matches my appetite. ;)

• dining
• cooking
• traveling
• hiking
• backpacking
• paragliding
• beaches
• nature
• adventure
• wwoofing

Music, Movies, and Books

Lets just talk about it.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I walked the streets of Prague with my best friend at midnight at 16. It was my first time out of the country without my family and I'll never forget how amazed I was with the world outside my borders.

I hiked the 'Fairyland' trail in Bryce Canyon National Park, and was completely by myself surrounded my the most awe-inspiring foreign colored landscape I'd seen. One of my big moments with nature I really remember.

From Europe a few highlights:
-Taking the overnight bus from Greece to Albania and EVERYONE looking at me like "What are you doing here?!?" :)
-Eating at a mom and pop shop in Tirana, Albania with a friend CouchSurfing connected me with. The lights went out in the middle of the meal and I had my first taste of Raki!
-The amazing lesser known beaches near Dhërmi, Albania
-Delicious sheep intestine sandwiches with a CouchSurfer in Istanbul.
-Hiking Cinque Terre in Italy and Trolltunga in Norway
-The beauty and air of rural Holland
- A beautiful Italian dinner at an outdoor table on a warm summer evening; Italian cooking in general!
- Motorcycle rides and mountain water

From Asia:
-Hiking the Kumano Kodo in Japan and spending my first night alone in the mountain woods after seeing a bear earlier in the day.
-Meeting my Hungarian friend I met couchsurfing in Istanbul 2 years in Taiwan (sometimes it is such a small world!)
- Being told I used my "Hashi" (chopsticks) well in Japan
- My first WWOOFing experience in the BEAUTIFUL village of Maze with the great Onsen
- Climbing Mount Kinabalu and completing my first Via Ferrata - the World's Highest!

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Kosovo, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Russian Federation, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States

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