ABOUT AMELIA:

Hey there! I'm a freelance journalist who writes about social issues. I recently went undercover to write about labor trafficking in Chinese restaurants. Here's a link to that story:

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/the_secret_cost_of_chinese_buffets_part_1_20161102

If you're interested in my other work, check out my website: https://amelia-pang.squarespace.com/

AMELIA'S CURRENT MISSION

I'll be visiting the White Earth reservation in Minnesota in early May to write about rape. For decades, Native women have been raped on their sovereign land. Most perpetrators face no punishment. This is because the defilers are non-Indians. Many Native American tribes lack the legal authority to try non-Natives accused of committing major crimes on tribal lands. I hope to bring more awareness to this issue through deeply human narratives.

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ZACK'S CURRENT MISSION

Learn more about farming, homesteading, animals, building, etc. during a cross-country road trip this winter--and see some sights and places I haven't before, including the Grand Canyon, Austin, Yosemite, redwoods, Portland, Seattle, Idaho, and Yellowstone!

ABOUT ZACK

I'm a lifelong learner who enjoys trying different things. I'm currently learning about organic farming but want to learn more during the trip. I'm pretty outgoing and like to discuss a wide variety of topics, from the food system to transportation development. My favorite times are cooking with friends and enjoying the meal and conversation. And then a good time around the bonfire! Exploring cities and other areas is another hobby of mine.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Amelia: I love meeting new people! Also since I'm freelancing, I receive sporadic paychecks and publications might not necessarily pay for my travel expenses. I'd really appreciate it if you could lend me your couch!

Zack: To meet people and help save money during the trip. My brother Josh (who kindly gave me a reference) has surfed a lot before and he highly recommends the experience, so I figured this trip is the perfect time to try it out.

Interests

Food, cooking, hiking, reading, writing, farming, gardening, growing, meditation, traveling, making people laugh, traveling to new places around the world...

• writing
• environment
• dining
• cooking
• meditation
• gardening
• reading
• traveling

Music, Movies, and Books

Amelia:

Indie rock; classical; pop; jazz; pretty much everything.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind; Blackfish; Wes Anderson movies.

Random Family; Anna Karenina; Cannery Row; The Bluest Eye; The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao; To the Lighthouse.

Zack:
Classical and instrumental music; movies that make you think and/or laugh; nonfiction and science fiction books.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

We were both journalists in New York City for five years. Lots of crazy stories to share!

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach: Cooking recipes and tips, some insight into different vegetables.

Learn: About places, love to know some insider tips in different locales as well as different ways of farming during the trip.

Share: Some stories, including memorable ones including our eccentric landlord/roommate Dave; tips for traveling in Europe or on the East Coast, particularly New York or Washington, D.C.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Conversation; cooking tips; tips about gardening/farming; and more...

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Grenada, Hungary, Italy, Sweden

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States

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