CURRENT MISSION

Be the goodness I want to see in the world.

ABOUT ME

I love traveling, and getting lost on foot in new cities, discovering greasy diners with good pancakes and back doors to museums. I love self-deprecating humor, humble people, getting shocked, NPR, practical solutions to annoying problems, changing into my PJs at nights, the urban dictionary, hearing about people's secrets, trying to pick up foreign languages, feeding friends and strangers, math, left wing politics, spoiling the people I like, and listening to audiobooks in my car. I love reading book reviews, especially reviews from people who hated the book. I love coffee in the mornings and margaritas and martinis at nights out.

I hate windshield wipers that don't work and people who try too hard. I am turned off by fascination with any type of paranormal, bigots, people who think they have it all figured out. I hate awkward moments, but I love awkward people.

I don't have a single mean bone in my body and I don't enjoy anything at another person's expense. I know almost nothing about pop culture. I was a scientist/scholar until recently and feel like I've missed out on my 20s entirely. I suck at trivia and all sorts of puzzles, except for Sudoku. At Sudoku, I rock.

When I get scared, I think of Istanbul and all is well with the world again. If Istanbul won't do it for me, I fantasize about raising goats. I am a city girl at heart, but I have immense respect for people more in tune with nature than me. If I could do it over, I would have liked to be a farmer. I would be the only farmer who puts on sunscreen and mascara going out in the fields, but hey, that could work, right?

I know this is all random. I promise I am more interesting in person. Oh, and I love my family. I hate cliches but I'll allow myself this one: my children are some of the most fascinating human beings I've ever met.

PHILOSOPHY

I am fascinated by the concept of couchsurfing. I am infinitely tired of the current system where we are all alienated from each other and all our interactions are financially based. This is one way I am stepping out of this sucky arrangement. I also want my children to meet new people and be witness to human kindness.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

My primary motive is to host, I/we might also be surfing occasionally.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've traveled extensively through CouchSurfing, but hosted only minimally. It's all been good times.

Interests

I guess I've named a lot of them in the Personal Description section!

• culture
• books
• cooking
• coffee
• running
• politics
• trivia
• reading
• traveling
• puzzles
• sudoku
• surfing
• languages
• mathematics
• psychology
• science

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Played with lion cubs in Africa, got bit by one and bled. Ahhh, good times...

Teach, Learn, Share

Wow, I won't claim to be capable of teaching anyone anything. That said, I was paid to teach psychology for many years and my husband supports our family by teaching environmental and European philosophy. So maybe that? I am also a decent cook if I say so myself and would be happy to share my knowledge of Turkish cooking. You would perhaps get the most out of interacting with my lovely daughters (ages 6 and 10). They could teach you to be silly and how to slow down and speed up time at will. My older one is also a book worm and could run circles around the most avid reader, she knows the craziest things and shares freely.
We would love to learn from others about their culture. I realize that this is broad and I'll leave it at that. Also, people who can increase our appreciation of and enjoyment of nature will get A+s. Same for people who inspire us with their humanity and devotion to goodness.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States, Zimbabwe

Countries I’ve Lived In

Turkey, United States

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