After more than a decade as an investigative reporter, I spent 5 years as a director of content at a PR firm, where I learned many things (and that I wasn't cut out for corporate work).

I now have two great PR clients who I work half time for remotely, and spend the rest of the time wandering around eating things and writing about it both for magazine freelance and for my own blog, www.expatcook.com where you can learn about my adventures.

I've been fortunate enough to visit many countries and I would love to visit many more.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I have been couch-surfing across the US this year, and more lately, some hosting in Chicago, a very popular destination in the summer. In my twenties, I managed a rock and roll band and we traveled the U.S. in a minivan. Couchsurfing has been a big part of my life --even before I found this community.

Couchsurfing is a wonderful way to more quickly get to know new places, which is what I'm after as a traveler -- to be able to soak in as much wonderful strangeness as I can on any given journey. That's the very best part of the couchsurfing experience, is the community.

Interests

I like to travel, interview food artisans, spend time outdoors, occasionally fish and forage for mushrooms and plants. A nature lover and one with curious tastebuds.

My blog is www.expatcook.com

• arts
• books
• dining
• cooking
• wine
• gardening
• traveling
• music
• live music
• journalism

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I can tell you about my trips, most memorably a month spent in South Africa and 10 days split between the Amazonas region of Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands.

Teach, Learn, Share

I love to cook, especially for hosts, and have a wide-ranging repertoire. I love to talk about current events, am reasonable well-informed on a lot of subjects and not unbearably opinionated, or at least I hope not! I have also been cooked for by chefs and cooks from various far-flung places, which is a delight.

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, Vatican City State

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States