I am an American mom with 2 girls ages 18 and 20. I moved to France 19 years ago with my French pastry chef husband and opened up a pastry shop in the south of France- Patisserie Leyris (you can google us). Before this I worked with several NGOs and non profits. My last job was in NY City working with refugees
and asylees and my master’s is in international Development. My husband Philippe has also traveled extensively. He has worked as a pastry chef in NY City, Saudi Arabia and France and traveled throughout Asia.

UPDATE: We sold our business and now I am working for an international NGO.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I have lived abroad through various stages of my life - a semester abroad in London, working on a kibbutz in Israel, working in Europe and Africa etc. and I have met so many wonderful people along the way who really went out of their way for me-Couchsurfing is a way to give back.
We belong to an organization called SERVAS (you should check it out) which is similar to Couchsurfing so we have been welcoming people into our home from all over the world for several years. It is great for our kids to meet different people .

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I lived and worked in Cote d'Ivoire with a poverty organization. To live and work in Africa was a dream of mine. Of course I think my kids are amazing too!

What I Can Share with Hosts

Because I am a foreigner I might be able to offer insights into the French culture that people who were born here would not be able to see. I have lived in France long enough to understand how many things work, but at the same time I see things through an American perspective.

Countries I’ve Visited

Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Burkina Faso, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Côte d'Ivoire, England, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Morocco, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Portugal, Romania, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, United States, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

Côte d'Ivoire, England, France, United States