CURRENT MISSION
Teaching English to refugees in Kansas City Kansas, helping with dog training (see below), writing, and planning Europe trip in late summer 2018.
ABOUT ME
Former banker, telemarketer, business owner, Peace Corps volunteer/staff member, currently living in God's country (aka Kansas). Older but probably not wiser. As of March 26, we have a dog, Australian shepherd, very sweet and not as high-energy as we'd been warned, just lively enough.

PHILOSOPHY
Leave the world a better place than you found it. And wipe your feet before you come in. (That's my "mom voice" talking.) Bark less, wag more.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I love Kansas City--it has museums, sports teams (baseball, soccer, football), friendly people, and world-famous barbecue. We have restaurants for vegans as well as carnivores. I also love Lawrence, about 25 miles west, one of the best small (rather, small-ish) towns in America.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE
In 2016, spent 6 weeks in Europe, stayed with CSers in Germany and Poland. A great experience (thanks, Maria, Eva, and Jens). Have hosted a couple of guys in KC, and stayed with CSers here in the US as well.

Interests

If I have time, I participate in local politics and try to help Kansas get back on the right path after its sad experience of recent years!

• writing
• cooking
• bbq
• walking
• reading
• traveling
• baseball
• soccer
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: classic rock, jazz, almost anything actually. Big fan of classic Russian rock group "Akvarium", Bruce Springsteen.

Movies: Arrival, LaLaLand, Brooklyn, Inside Out, Zootopia

Books: Donna Leon mysteries, Joanna Trollope novels, Bill Bryson

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

The Blue Lagoon in Iceland. (Hint to women: Don't shave your legs right before you go.)

Teach, Learn, Share

I can cook a pretty good Italian spaghetti and meatball dinner and some awesome chili. My partner knows all the good beer pubs in KC and is always up for a night out.

What I Can Share with Hosts

English language practice, cooking skills, lots of stories about getting lost in many different countries.

Countries I’ve Visited

Armenia, China, France, Greece, Italy, New Zealand

Countries I’ve Lived In

Germany, Iceland, Mexico, Poland, Russian Federation, United States