CURRENT MISSION

i just want to taste-test for a while.

ABOUT ME

i:
have some hard core midwest pride. :)
probably use emoticons/smileys way too frequently
want to taste test a lot of different jobs
want to learn lots of languages.
want to learn how to make my own candles and take better photographs.
love animals, trees, hiking, putting my feet in running water.
am not a fan of shoes.
am head over heels for fall. :)
want to learn more about the moon and constellations.
bake pretty good snickerdoodles.
love drinking jasmine, peppermint and chrysanthemum tea.
have decided that most people don't really get enough hugs on a daily basis.
prefer trains over planes or cars.

PHILOSOPHY

trees and hugs.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

well. i'm new here, but i want to be more involved. my housemates aren't too keen on having unknown folks sleeping on our sofas, but i'd LOVE to show people around DC, meet up for coffee, help with directions if you're in town and get lost, give suggestions on restaurants or bars or museums...all that stuff. :)

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

once upon a time i was out with a friend in dc and we missed the last train back to takoma. we met a kid who had missed the same train...so he took a bus with us and we ended up walking three miles back to a friend's house. he crashed on our couch and then came to our holiday dinner party the next day, asparagus stir-fry and spinach salad in hand. turns out he wasn't a creep and is now one of our most fantastic friends. :)

Interests

just about everything and then some.

• animals
• culture
• coffee
• running
• walking
• partying
• drinking
• traveling
• cars
• hiking
• backpacking
• languages

Music, Movies, and Books

movies: amelie, ma vie en rose (my life in pink...not sure how to spell it in french), born into brothels, lilya 4ever, harry potter. i'm sorry, it's true.

music: the weepies, new amsterdams, ani difranco, indigo girls, brett dennen. deleted scenes. my guitar. :)

books: red azalea, mountains beyond mountains. the education of little tree. cunt. the farming of bones.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

seen: when i was 17, i was at a hospital and had just found out that a dear friend had passed away during the night. i was standing in an elevator and a stranger walked in- a woman in her mid 60s probably. i was crying, and she looked me in the eye and asked if i'd like a hug. i nodded and she put her arms around me and held me for the 5 floors down to the first floor. she told me that everything would be okay. hugged me again, and walked away. never saw her again.

done: when i turned 21 i was studying in cordoba, argentina. i was fairly shy with low self-esteem, having a spiritual turning point etc. lots of changes and insecurity...small town girl from iowa... and i decided that i wanted to travel alone. so i took off on a bus- just me and my backpack, and decided that for that trip i was going to trust people. i talked to strangers, spoke only in spanish, tried new foods, made no plans in advance...and it was probably the most amazing and empowering thing i've ever done.

Teach, Learn, Share

i've lived in a few places in the us, in china, in argentina...i've traveled to a few other countries too...and the biggest lesson i've learned thus far is that people are just people. everywhere you go there will be someone who will look out for you, help you if they can, want you to feel at home, share their pride in their home and culture...whenever i think of those experiences, it makes me love people again...

Countries I’ve Visited

Chile, Japan, Rwanda, Spain, Uganda, Uruguay

Countries I’ve Lived In

Argentina, China, United States

•