I recently quit my job of 5 years at UPS. I was an operations manager, and I learned A LOT about embracing and growing in the midst of adversity. Although this was a secure and stable job, I always had the dream of travelling/living part time in a Spanish speaking country. After um-teen times of asking for a leave of absence and being shut down, I quit my job, withdrew my 401k and bolted for Costa Rica. I have been living here since Feb 1 now and plan to continue traveling south the Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
My soul is not meant to be tamed. When I am tied down in one place, my demons come out from hibernation. While some people can find serenity despite the ball and shackle the system has them in, I cannot, it destroys my soul. I have an adrenaline seeking brain, like most others on this site, I assume. Some people only find serenity in discomfort, change, constant growth. Some of us need to taste the salt of the ocean, hear the laughter of playing children, feel the sun kiss our skin, smell the earth of the untouched jungle, see the clouds dip beneath the mountains, and explore the intuition and spirit each one of us holds.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I am utilizing couchsurfing for the financial benefit, of course, but moreover, the unique, strong, and lasting friendships that have the potential to bloom from such a service. I really don't care to see all the "wonders of the world", I would rather hit the town farmers market and learn the local language, or have a simple coffee with a beautiful view.

Interests

I revolve my days around yoga and spending time with my golden retriever Marley. I have an alter-family of festival friends who have become a significant part of my life, and have opened my eyes to the importance of traveling and forming new connections. when I started college in 2010 I was a biology major, now I am finishing my college education with a Spanish degree. If it were up to me I would go to school forever and never need to attain a piece of paper saying I was there. Alas, that paper is worth about $40,000 and I don't have the moneys to tend to the real values in life. I look forward to using this resource as a means to discovering the world and the rest of my whole.

my favorite words are wanderlust and serendipity

• festivals
• education
• environment
• yoga
• instructor
• traveling
• snowboarding
• biology
• teaching
• statistics

Music, Movies, and Books

My favorite movie Into the Wild
Favorite book Into the Wild
Favorite music Into the Wild soundtrack by Eddie Vedder :P

I LOVE music. Just a FEW of my favorites: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Eddie Veder, Eric Clapton, Emancipator Ensemble, Shlohmo, Purity Ring, Gary Clark Jr, Air, Arctic Monkeys, Beats Antique, BoomBox, Cherub, Lotus, Phantogram, Polica, Radiohead, and STS9 :)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I've learned how to manage and thrive in the midst of adversity. I was a woman supervisor at UPS for 5 years; which is predominantly a male environment. I don't know exact statistics, but I'd say there is one woman for every 10 men in the operations portion of UPS. Not only that, as a young millennial I managed baby boomers who are a part of a union. This is another struggle in and of itself. I found the most effective way to succeed in both scenarios, and life as a whole, is through truth. UPS is a place of many rules and regulations, some of which are hard to agree with. Instead of simply regurgitating information to my subordinates and pretending I believed what I was saying, I didn't, if I didn't believe in what I was saying. As far as the rules and regulations that I didn't agree with go, I considered alternatives, asked my superiors questions as to how we could clarify and possibly modify certain ways of doing things, many times with success, sometimes without. In conclusion, life at UPS has taught me to live fully with my heart, never go through the motions, because you will find yourself stuck and confused eventually, unable to explain the reasoning behind your actions. And to feel stagnant is my biggest fear.

Teach, Learn, Share

I'm a certified yoga instructor! Lets breathe together. I've also been employed as a snowboard instructor, if you like the cold and snow :) I also am pursuing my TEFL certificate, and have experience volunteering as an English teacher.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can teach all I have to offer: English, yoga, snowboarding. I am a decent cook, and love animals to care for!

Countries I’ve Visited

Costa Rica, France, Mexico, Spain

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States