I have spent most of my life on the east coast of the United States. I have grown up on the beach and feel most connected in a beach town, no matter where it be. My parents own a small seafood restaurant in New Jersey, where I have learned the challenges and benefits of working hard since childhood. I will complete my master's degree in speech-language pathology in May 2016, and work with adults with neurological disorders following stroke, brain injury, and dementia. I have spent the last 7 years of my life attending the University of Florida, socializing with the UF surf club, and growing as a person.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I like people; meeting them, learning about them, and developing friendship. Everyone has a story to tell, and we can grow individually, culturally, and globally if we only open our ears and hearts to the wisdom of others. Although relatively well travelled for my age, most of my travelling has been in the context of "vacationing". I am ready to evolve as a traveler by both hosting and visiting the homes of others. I will be traveling Europe and beyond when I graduate in May. I want to see the world through the varied experience of open minded individuals throughout the world, and share in their humanity.

Interests

Surfing
(Making) Art
(Making) Music
Philosophy
Spirituality
Education
Playing sports
Hiking
Nature

• arts
• culture
• education
• dining
• seafood
• cooking
• working out
• clubbing
• traveling
• socializing
• music
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• surfing
• sports
• anthropology
• teaching
• history
• psychology
• beaches

Music, Movies, and Books

Good music manifests in every genre, but I listen most to singer/song writers from every generation.

Singer/Songwriters: Ray LaMontagne, John Denver, Josh Garrels, James Taylor, Bob Dylan, Chris Stapleton, Justin Townes Earle, Van Morrison, Fleet Foxes, Ben Harper, Hozier, Alexi Murdoch, Jim Croce, Ben Howard, Neil Young, The Band

Electronic: Pretty Lights, Kygo, Thomas Jack, Gramatik

Hip Hop: Jurassic 5, Jay-Z, Notorious B.I.G, Dizzy Wright

Reggae: Tribal Seeds, Rebelution, Peter Tosh, Black Uhuru, Steel Pulse

Reading is a special form of communication because it offers so much real-time room for creativity on the part of the reader. I love fiction and nonfiction, however I am always striving to keep room for fiction reading because it usually gets the short end of the stick when I am busy. Favorite books include: Ishmael, The theological works of C.S. Lewis, The Road, The Giver, Cold Mountain, Pascal's Pensées, and National Geographic is my favorite media

I try to watch a movie a week, it is the ultimate form of story telling because the creators have near unlimited multi-sensory control. My favorite movie's include: Most everything by Quentin Tarantino, It's a Wonderful Life, Gladiator, The Shawshank Redemption, The Dark Night, Memento, The Lion King

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Provide social support for adolescents with chronic and terminal illness through a program called Streetlight. The people we support spend a majority of their time in the hospital at a stage in life when most people take good health for granted. Working through life and death challenges with these individuals has been a remarkably formative experience for me, and I am ever grateful to those who opened their lives to my friendship at their most troubled times.

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach: psychology, anthropology, neurology
Learn: history, culture, human experience
Share: stories and lifestyles

What I Can Share with Hosts

Intangible: good laughs, grateful attitude, open mind
Tangible: cleaning, cooking, working outdoors, food

Countries I’ve Visited

Costa Rica, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States