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Overview
About Me
CURRENT MISSION
The Great American Adventure!
ABOUT ME
I am currently on what I like to think of as an American Grand Tour or an urban vision quest--I am driving from Portland to San Francisco to Santa Fe to Austin to New Orleans to Atlanta and back to Portland this summer. I'm not sure what I'm looking for, but I think it has something to do with identity, the joy of being young and alive, and adventure.
Have you heard of Fortuna, the goddess whose spinning wheel dictates who is lucky and unlucky? Sometimes you're up other times you're down? Well, Fortuna has not smiled upon me in the past five years; I have had a streak of terrible luck. But the wheel has turned! Suddenly I have been given a freedom and happiness that I didn't know could exist. And I'm loving it.
Now, I am looking to really LIVE! To fear, to be surprised, to see the brightest of yellows, to walk down dark alleyways, to talk till four in the morning, to smell different cities' smells, to laugh! I would love to come spend a turn on your couch if you'll let me, and learn from and enjoy your company. Let's adventure together, you and I!
PHILOSOPHY
Briefly,
I believe that the world is a painful but fascinating place and that true beauty exists in the surprises of life.
I believe that everyone's story makes sense from their perspective. In other words, I believe in empathy and forgiveness.
Why I’m on Couchsurfing
HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING
My housemates and I hosted several couch surfers this past spring at our college house in Walla Walla, WA. They were all an absolute pleasure to get to know. I thought I would try experiencing the CS world from the other side, so I'm looking to spend some quality time on some unfamiliar couches and get to know all you lovely people out there that I would never have a chance to meet otherwise.
COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE
We hosted. I am now currently surfing for 46 days this summer.
Interests
People, the joy of youth, good conversations, urban exploration, neuroscience, inequality, segregation, America, documentaries, This American Life, podcasts, storytelling, humor, color, authenticity, the real meaning of friendship, poetry, David Foster Wallace, social constructs, smokers, the delicate balance between your identity and the factors of your environment that make you the way you are, questions, curiosity about why the world is the way 'tis, playing with words, slang, lexicon, cleverness, kindness, intellectualism, art. The delight of being surprised by other people.
- animals
- arts
- poetry
- singing
- documentaries
- coloring
- beauty
- environment
- running
- podcasts
- a cappella
- surfing
- neuroscience
- mountains
- urban exploration
Music, Movies, and Books
I am currently reading a book called "Wisdom," which I don't think is very good. It's supposed to combine neuroscience and philosophy and so far is just pop psych. I like fiction (literature, poetry, Jonathan Franzen, Joseph Conrad, Willa Cather, "A Confederacy of Dunces") but I've been on a non-fiction everything bend ever since I started listening to This American Life, The Moth, Radiolab, and other podcasts. I like non-fiction books and articles, I like "The Week" magazine, and I LOVE documentaries. My favorite documentary is "Exit through the gift shop" by Banksy, the famous street artist. My favorite band right now is probably Sleigh Bells, though the Decemberists are always a standby favorite of mine because of his way with words.
One Amazing Thing I’ve Done
Seen (1): My cousin Beau, a stoic, does not sing, but at his wedding he surprised us all by singing a cappella to his bride. His voice trilled with nervousness but he hit every note. It was one of the purest interactions I've ever witnessed between two human beings. So little complexity there.
Seen (2): The wheat fields at night. Where I live, one can take a 15 minute walk to a veritable ocean of wheat. It is so quiet out there at night because there are no other animals or plants but the wheat. The wind whistles through it, the stars shine above it. It its midst, with the sound of electricity crackling out of the power lines that run through it, you feel alone.
Seen (3): My friend Chris Leja performing slam poetry.
Seen (4): My mother, the most loving person I know, befriending people no one else can.
Done (1): I went on a vision quest once. I marched myself into the Oregon mountains and looked inward. I wanted to remove myself from The Systems. I fasted for three days and learned that I like The Systems. And that I am deeply deeply a people person.
Done (2): I know how to do stereotaxic brain surgery on mice.
Teach, Learn, Share
I can teach you to:
1. Caramelize onions. With this knowledge, we can make rice pilaf! (A cheap and tasty dish.)
2. I can answer questions like, "Hayley, what is the neurobiological explanation for empathy?"
Learn:
1. What makes you the happiest in life.
2. How you balance freedoms and constraints.
3. How to can. As in preserves.
Countries I’ve Visited
Canada, Italy, Mexico, United Kingdom, United States
Countries I’ve Lived In
United States