Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I like to have authentic experiences when I travel, so I am interested in meeting locals and seeing the city from their point of view.

Interests

Today was a near-perfect day. If I had to tweak anything, I would add a nap and a few hours sitting in the sun-room reading a novel. In the morning, I had a goodbye-breakfast with a student who is moving away. Then I was off on a run followed by a quick swim in the lake to cool down. I spent the afternoon working on an art project, and grilled out with friends in the evening. I live in a small, rural town, so we have to come up with ways to entertain ourselves. :) Though describing my day doesn't exactly answer this question, I feel like a glimpse into how I spend my time does reveal my interests.

Here's a slightly more direct description of my interests: I love to immerse myself in new worlds, whether that means traipsing through the woods on a run, collapsing into a great novel, getting lost in the winding story of a podcast or creating a new world with my pastels and paper. I'm not much of a TV person, but I could listen to music all day. I love a good heart-pounding and foot-tapping song. Though I'm an introvert at heart, meeting new people is one of my favorite things. I like learning new facts about life that push me to reconsider the way I view the world, and I am interested in learning ways to make myself happier and live my life better.

• arts
• dining
• cooking
• music

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Ben Howard, Bon Iver, Daughter, Angus and Julia Stone, Eric Church, Drake, Justin Bieber

Movies: Edward Scissorhands, Tommy Boy, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Spirited Away

Books: Norwegian Wood, God Help the Child, Crime and Punishment, True Notebooks, Americanah, La Petite, anything by David Sedaris

Podcasts: Radio Lab, The Moth, This American Life, Stuff You Missed in History Class, Snap Judgment

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I painted with coffee and salt and made maps for all the different states I have lived in. It's pretty cool to watch the salt absorb the color ...

Something like this: http://www.designsponge.com/2011/09/diy-project-salted-watercolor-artwork.html

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach me any new art or craft, play me your favorite music, cook food with me or show me your town, and I will be the happiest person around!

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can share my love of life, my curiosity and my passion for new things. I have a few good stories to tell, but mostly I'd like to add a few new stories to my collection! I enjoy cooking and eating healthy, so I can share a few tips and tricks in those two categories. I also love to organize and look through photos, so if you have any photo albums laying around, send them my way.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, England, Germany, Mexico

Countries I’ve Lived In

Russian Federation