CURRENT MISSION

To get through grad school school in Taiwan

ABOUT ME

Holy canolli, I don't know. My students say I'm a good teacher, but I think that's only because I have a face as rubbery as a tire. There are times when i feel like I'm 9, and times when I feel like I'm 90. I get restless in a classroom, but one of my passions in life is learning. The worst thing about being abroad is the guilt I feel not being able to spend time with my family and best friends in Washington. But, I love Taiwan and the people here. I hope more people learn about what a wonderful place it is! I believe learning a new language is important not for communication, but for understanding.

PHILOSOPHY

Teach to learn, learn to teach.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've been living on the same couch now for 6 years, and I've learned so much about life. It's the best method of learning I've encountered so far.

Interests

Culture, language, drama, the Sims, colors, summer camp arts & crafts (ie Shrinky Dinks, lanyards, tie dye and the like). Along with Mandarin, in Taiwan I've also learned knitting, guitar, Flamenco & belly dance (separately, of course) and TaeKwonDo (black belt...finally!!).

• arts
• culture
• dancing
• flamenco
• crafts
• knitting
• guitar
• camping
• teaching
• beaches

Music, Movies, and Books

I like books about far-off places, daring sword-fights, and princes in disguise (as well as Charlotte's Web, anything by Shakespeare, Barbara Kingsolver's stuff--Life of Pi & The Shadow of the Wind were pretty good too). I cried profusely while reading The Book Thief. God that book was good. I love any kind of music except music that sounds too angry. For movies, I like ones that have heart and that people took care in making (Silence of the Lambs-the first movie that scared me so much I almost peed my pants, yeesh, those night-vision goggles, The Sandlot totally rocks, Annie-the sun WILL come out tomorrow, especially if you live in west central Taiwan, and I don't know, I really like a lot of Johnny Depp movies, particularly Finding Neverland. I also enjoyed Pan's Labyrinth)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Seeing a sea turtle lay eggs at midnight on a Carribbean beach, and the next day watching a different clutch of baby turtles dig their way out of the sand. What rushes.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, China, Costa Rica, New Zealand, South Korea, Thailand, United States, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Taiwan, United States

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