CURRENT MISSION

To travel and work in New Zealand

ABOUT ME

John and I have decided to quit our jobs in Portland, OR to travel and work in New Zealand. I, Amanda, have always been drawn to traveling to new countries, or finding gems in my own. Originally from Wisconsin, I've lived in Alaska and Oregon immersing myself in the wildness both states have to offer. I'm a musician, a hiker, and lover of bicycles. My last job was an Emergency Medical Technician with an ambulance company in Portland, OR.

John is a mechanical engineer who grew up at the hands of National Park Rangers in the US which has influenced his sense of outdoor adventuring. He grew up in Skagway, Alaska and spends his free time mountaineering, downhill skiing, rock climbing, and riding his motorcycle. No stranger to traveling, he has traveled to Europe, Thailand, China, Japan, and Tasmania, Australia.

We both have very adventurous spirits. If we haven't done it, we probably want to. We both love exploring the outdoors and would prefer a night in the woods over a night in the club, but that doesn't mean we won't find ourselves in a club from time to time. We love meeting people of all backgrounds, sharing experiences, and are looking forward to the amazing people we will be meeting on couchsurfing as we travel through Australia and New Zealand together.

PHILOSOPHY

Life is what you make it. It's a gift, and it's short, so get the hell out there and experience something.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I have mostly been hosting in Alaska, but I met most of my awesome Anchorage friends through couchsurfing. I surfed in Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia as well, with fantastic experiences.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I have been using couchsurfing since 2007 and have traveled through South America meeting wonderful people with this site. I also used it in Alaska where I had lived for four years as a way to connect with the local community. I have had the honor of hosting some amazing people while I had a home to host in, including one of the administrators for this site.

Interests

Traveling, Outdoor adventures, rollerblading, salsa dancing, hiking, white water rafting, kayaking, getting into climbing, scuba diving, roadtrips, night swimming, camping, speed boats, lakes and oceans, movies, photography, caving, exploring, old architecture and victorian houses, art (especially from other countries) cheese (because I'm from Wisconsin)

• arts
• culture
• architecture
• photography
• dancing
• salsa dancing
• cheese
• clubbing
• boating
• movies
• traveling
• socializing
• magic
• music
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• kayaking
• spelunking
• camping
• mountaineering
• scuba diving
• skiing
• rock climbing
• swimming
• engineering
• beaches
• lakes

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: I like almost anything and will dance to almost everything. I do lean more towards folk music like Mumford and Sons or the Lumineers, but John loves pretty much anything.

Movies: Goonies, Eternal Sunshine, documentaries
Books:Poisonwood Bible, Portrait of a Young Man Drowning, Slaughter House 5, 11 minutes, Blink

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Not going to keep this to just one, impossible!

Amanda:
Painted a drum in Ghana
Walked on a beach of conch shells in Haiti
Swam in cenotes in Mexico
Sailed from Panama to Colombia
Stood on a glacier on Mt. McKinley
Biked to the Magic Bus from Into the Wild
Survived a Peruvian bus accident
Got lost on a scooter in Rome

John:
Summited Mt. Hood, Oregon
Climbed basalt formations on Tasmania's Maria Island, an absolutely amazing experience
Discovered ancient Native American artifacts while caving in New Mexico
Was humbled by a shrine in Thailand
Fixed a broke down camper van while traveling across Tasmania
Designed and built an electric race car

Teach, Learn, Share

I want to learn everything about the world and the people in it. I've learned in my travels that you have to be open minded and flexible, for nothing ever words smoothly in travel. Great experiences come from the off shoot accidents that happen. Despite the differences in culture or place of those around you, you can always find common ground in which to bond with. We're all in the same boat when we're traveling.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Colombia, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Ghana, Haiti, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

United Kingdom, United States

•