I live in Seattle with the mountains, big bodies of water, and evergreens.

I love to climb, cook, and read. I love public libraries, plants, and homemade pizza and chocolate chip cookies (secret ingredient: tahini... in the cookies, at least).

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm on Couchsurfing because I enjoy building relationships through travel. Some of the most memorable experiences I've had while traveling have been with people I've met in transit, at hostels, on the sidelines of a pickup soccer game, or at a local crag. And couchsurfers are awesome!

Interests

I've biked through the streets of Chicago, Seattle, and Minneapolis at all hours of the day and night. It's a great way to learn about and engage with a city, I'm looking forward to exploring more places on two wheels.

I love to hike, climb, and play outdoors. I'm good at getting lost but successfully finding a way back. I'm patient and up for all kinds of adventures. Climbing has taken me to some of the most beautiful places and I have met wonderful people. It's an exciting sport -- where a 20-something can learn from an 8 year-old who can learn from a 78 year-old who can turn back to the 20-something for some tips.

I could wander a city for hours without getting bored, just talking to people and marveling in the sights, sounds, and smells around me. I find that sitting in parks people-watching in the sun is a great way to spend a day, especially if there is wine involved.

Finally, I LOVE cooking and the way food brings people together. Who doesn't like to eat? I'm always up to try a new dish, though my specialty is good ol' Midwestern mac 'n' cheese. I can also make a mean strawberry rhubarb pie.

• festivals
• education
• dining
• cooking
• cheese
• baking
• traveling
• bouldering
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• hiking
• rock climbing
• soccer
• teaching
• plants
• climbing
• urban planning

Music, Movies, and Books

Good reads: I love, love, love Harry Potter and talking about the books with people who have read them for the first time. I enjoy historical fiction, Greek mythology, fantasy, sci-fi. Some other books I enjoy: George Saunders' short story collections (Tenth of December in particular), The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, Zadie Smith's novels, The Bell Jar.

Good tunes: Anything that pairs well with a sunny day and long drives, leisurely walks, or nights in the kitchen. Finally, my role models: Sleater-Kinney, Fleetwood Mac, Lucinda Williams

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Hiked a volcano in a downpour.

Teach, Learn, Share

Cooking, biking, baking, printmaking, bike mechanics, pick up soccer and ultimate frisbee, puppet construction, doodles, haikus, climbing

What I Can Share with Hosts

Good food, good humor, good conversation, and games!

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Canada, England, France, Hungary, Mexico, Nicaragua, Spain, Switzerland

Countries I’ve Lived In

Nicaragua, Spain, United States