CURRENT MISSION

Help build closer connections among different cultures, and have fun along the way.

ABOUT ME

I'm an American and have been living in Lecce, Italy for the past 8 years. I now have more time to travel and I've always enjoyed travels that allow me to interact with local people to learn about different cultures and share stories about our lives and those around us. In the past I've also hosted travelers via couchsurfing and also hosted guests via eatwith.com as I enjoy bringing people together over dinner. I'm very relaxed in my travels and easy to share space with. I know when to engage in conversation and when others need a bit of silence. I also have a good sense of humor. The greatest trips involve pushing myself outside my comfort zone where I don't always speak the language, but still end up connecting with people, and discovering new things about their city/country. The simplest engagements often are the most memorable.

PHILOSOPHY

We are all connected in this life, but we tend to live our lives in relatively small circles. I'm learning that the more you widen your circle and the more you open your heart, the happier you become, and life just seems more exciting and interesting.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I haven't hosted in quite a few years since I moved from Seattle to Europe but I now have the opportunity to host again.

Interests

Reading, writing, poetry, hiking, sailing, yoga, meditation, laughing, cooking, dinner parties, telling stories, listening, biking, running.

• cats
• writing
• poetry
• cooking
• yoga
• meditation
• reading
• traveling
• cycling
• hiking
• sailing
• golf

Music, Movies, and Books

Too many to mention, but recently started reading more poetry. The interest started when I heard a line from Donald Hall's poem, "The Snow". "Birth is the fear of death and the source of an old hope." A beautiful phrase.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

An 8-hour hike on Kauai that took us through the Na Pali Coast. We didn't meet anyone along that hike, and it felt as though we were at the end of the world. Yet, I always sensed that we were surrounded by the spirits/energy of those who had lived there in previous generations.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Germany, Italy, Malta, United States

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