CURRENT MISSION

Life is amazing & I intend to live it that way.

ABOUT ME

I plopped onto a plane from Indiana to China in 2007. Who knew that same trip 9 years ago would not end.... and that it would turn into a career. A few thousand air mileage points, several passport stamps, and countless dumplings later, I relocated to the Bay Area to work for a travel startup as a writer and editor.

Reading about others' adventures made me psyched to continue having my own. With ants in my pants and my heart more open than ever before, I lead study abroad/gap year programs for a few years with American college students. Now I've settled in the foothills and am loving the Colorado sunshine.

I enjoy writing (especially about meaningful travel and cultural immersion), chatting with folks, living simply, trying new things, being outside!!!, and finding something special in each and every day. My goal is to do some good with my life and humbly encourage others to do the same.

PHILOSOPHY

"therefore, i do not run like a man running aimlessly."
1 corinthians 9:26

"i am a visitor here, i am not permanent."
death cab for cutie

自强不息

"there are things you do because they feel right & they make no sense & they make no money & it may be the real reason we are here: to love each other & to eat each other's cooking & say it was good."
-- story people, brian andreas

"snails see the benefits, the beauty in every inch."
-- the format

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've hosted a number of travelers in California as well as been graciously hosted in many places. I'm continuously in awe of and grateful for this amazing community. :-)

Interests

wanderlust, trees and climbing them, adventures, scarves, spicy food, snail mail, maps, kitties, sunshine, coffee shops, fresh flowers, the outdoors, serving others, learning languages, summer camp, conversations that turn strangers into friends, yoga, singalongs, epic dance parties, being silly whenever possible...

• writing
• beauty
• dancing
• education
• dining
• cooking
• coffee
• yoga
• running
• partying
• flowers
• reading
• traveling
• stamps
• outdoor activities
• camping
• rock climbing
• cartography
• communications
• teaching
• languages
• cultural immersion

Music, Movies, and Books

Yes please.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

My brother become a father.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Cambodia, Canada, China, Croatia, Fiji, France, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Jordan, Malaysia, Montenegro, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Oman, Philippines, Portugal, Rwanda, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Viet Nam, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Countries I’ve Lived In

China, Ireland, Namibia, United States