CURRENT MISSION

Explore, Experience, Exist, Enjoy the Ecosyst

ABOUT ME

I am a marine biology majored naturalist who would love to travel the world, to expose myself to the beauty of my surroundings with a broader goal of ever-increasing my appreciation for the blessings we have been given. I love hikes and the outdoors, because that is what fuels my energy and makes me feel alive. There is so much inspiration held in the forest FOREinSTance, which makes me want to slow my life's pace down to really enjoy the small happenings in life. Nature has so much magic, and a non-stop lifestyle I have learned forces you to forget to literally 'stop and smell the roses' which is cliche, yes, but OH so important. I love to draw, mostly of which is inspired by the great outdoors, ride bicycles, surf (not just on couches), and experience the unfamiliar. A bit of my recent college-experiential-growth has been putting myself in uncomfortable situations, because it is in those that you find yourself, and it forces you to listen to what it is saying. Much more important than my list of places to travel to is the passion that it gives me to protect and spread awareness about how fragile this ball of life we live on really is. That gets easily forgotten and this global consciousness directional change has to be constantly gaining momentum.

PHILOSOPHY

Anyone who has something to say, which is everyone, is worth listening to. Friends start as strangers

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

We have, in this last month of July had a record of 28 couchsurfers. They brought to this house, which already had 10 inhabitants, a feeling of vigor and excitement. I have traveled to and from portland via rideshare (funny story) and hitching. My family has hosted many foreign exchange students from Italy and France.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Great ones. Memorable and astonishing. Exhilarating and awakening

Interests

I love to play. Any sport and I am interested! When someone pulls out a frizbee, I can feel my inner canine come out and take over. Anything outdoors, from hikes to splashing in the water (surf, scuba, spearfish, kitesurf) to mountain biking, anything that will keep me moving. However I do enjoy the mentally exercising activities as well, such as drawing, writing and reading and playing music. Sometimes speaking words is not necessary, and any of those activities clear my mind and flush away any built up stress. I love music and have picked up the guitar and drums recently, but as with sports, I'll take a hack at whatever noise making object comes my way.

• writing
• singing
• beauty
• exercise
• reading
• traveling
• eating out
• drawing
• magic
• music
• guitar
• drums
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• hiking
• scuba diving
• sports
• biology
• beaches

Music, Movies, and Books

Waking Life, Amelie, Inception, 007, Sin Nombre, 180 South, The Cove (made me cry), The Descendents, Edward Scissorhands, Land Before Time, National Geographic, Planet Earth - like documentaries.

Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Sambada, Oliver Mtukudzi, Beatles Beasties and Beirut, Andrew Bird, Bassnectar (from my school), Beck, RJD2, The Knife, Cocorosie, Bonobo, Crosby Stills Nash, Led zep, Miike Snow, Beatz Antique - This list is as long as the Earth's orbit

Too Far, The Catcher in the Rye, Mans Search for Meaning, The Things They Carried, Tina Fey's Bosspants, The Tao Te Ching, Dr Suess

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

When I traveled to Kauai, HI, I was dropped off at a secluded beach for a surf session, and while I was paddling around, I was waved in by some organization on the beach all wearing uniform tee-shirts. As I paddled in, I started to feel a little frightened for why they were frantically shouting and waving their hands. Upon arriving at the shore, they had told me sharks were in the water and had just attacked a mammal just up the beach. The whale had washed up on the rocks and was being endlessly slammed against the rocks whenever a big breaker would come by. So the lifeguards were recruiting people to help. Immediately I hopped on the opportunity. As the Marine Mammal Response and Rescue of NOAA specialists were gauging the whale's responses, they issued that the pygmy sperm whale (which I had no idea even existed) was too far gone. So they had to euthanize it with a needle that could have passed through my whole head. After the shot, we had to wait a while as the serum set in. Once we thought the coast was clear, we needed to haul it up the rocks so we attached a rope to the fluke. We gave it a pull, but MAN was it not dead. It gave us a pull back and 6 of the strongest men I have seen and myself were pulled forward. After another time waiting and another euthanasia shot, the whale passed away. By this time, what seamed like the whole island knew and was on the beach watching. We were able to pull this huge creature onto a wheel-less gurney and carried it up the rocks and into the back of a pickup truck. This was an endeavor.WOW. Meanwhile, the natives and other observers were in a traditional Hawaiian prayer, all holding hands and singing in a circle. Oh how I wish I couldv'e been there. But I had a much more hands on experience. The whale was in the pick up, which was a lifeguard truck (f-450 or what have you) and myself and another elder woman hopped in the back with it. For the next 5 miles of the gnarliest dirt road we got to observe this whale from inches away. We sang, chatted and gazed as the truck got stuck in multiple places and we passed what we thought was a desolate forest. Long story, a little bit shorter, it was cool- and the lifeguard captain offered me a job. Which I hope is still waiting for me next time I go back.

Teach, Learn, Share

Some Naturalist knowledge, some insight, some goofball attitude might rub off on you. I am going through a big transformational change in my life, reinventing who I am and what I surround myself with- would love to share. Love to pick peoples brains, because I am a sponge ready to absorb

Countries I’ve Visited

Italy, Malaysia, South Africa, Thailand, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

American Samoa, South Africa, United States