ABOUT ME

I am now living in the gastronomic capital of the world, Lyon, in the Rhone-Alps region of France. I just moved but I love my new home already. I am currently working as an assistant teacher/cultural immersion facilitator with a study abroad program for university students who are learning French. I will hopefully soon have an internship with a linguistics lab as well.

I just "retired" from my post as the happy manager of the Moosilauke Ravine Lodge in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, where I was paid to cook and order food for hundreds of people, manage a great crew, serve family-style dinner and breakfast, plan and host concerts, oversee trail maintenance, fix plumbing, split wood and all sorts of other aspects of rustic hospitality.

I love all things outdoors: backpacking, trail running, swimming in the ocean, snowboarding, cross country skiing and canoeing. As an undergraduate, I studied nearly everything: languages, photography, book arts, history, biology, astronomy, and literature. I continue to love learning, and I'm excited about the relationship between food and sustainability. I love to read and I'm learning to knit.

J'habite actuellement à Lyon, et je m'occupe de l'encadrement d'un groupe de 15 étudiants qui étudient le français comme langue étrangère au fac. Je les aide à apprendre la langue et j'organise les sorties pour qu'ils puissent découvrir la culture française.

Avant de venir en France, je travaillais dans un refuge dans les White Mountains aux États-Unis. Le refuge s'appelle Moosilauke Ravine Lodge, c'est un chalet un bois, un peu comme une auberge pour les gens qui randonnent, avec un restaurant aussi. J'étais chef donc je m'occupaient de l'equipe de jeunes avec qui je travaillais, je cuisinais, je faisais la ménage, je repararais les choses qui ne marchaient pas... bref j'ai fait un peu de tous les aspects de l'hospitalité "rustique" là.

J'aime les sports en plein nature: randonner, le ski de fond, le surf de neige, le cycling, le canotage, et le jogging au dehors. J'ai étudié la linguistique, le français, et un peu de biologie, astronomie, litterature, et photographie à la fac. Je continue à aimer apprendre, et je m'interesse beaucoup au rapport entre la nourriture et la protection de l'environnement. J'aime lire et j'apprends à tricoter.

PHILOSOPHY

La monde est un livre et ceux qui ne voyagent jamais ne lisent qu'une page.

"The only bad experience is the one that we don't learn from" -Lindsay Keegitah Borrows

"Think where man's glory most begins and ends, And say my glory was I had such friends." (William Butler Yeats)

et en fin: Si on veut, on peut.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I surfed my first two couches three years ago in the south of France and I couldn't have asked for better experiences! This year I was lucky to be hosted in Chamonix, France, and Florence, Italy.

I am hoping to have a couch soon so that I can start hosting!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I was overwhelmed by the generosity and friendliness of our hosts! It is indescribably amazing to be in a foreign country, attempting to speak another language, and be welcomed to a place you have never been by friends you hadn't yet met.

Interests

Languages, cooking, the outdoors!

les langues, la cuisine, la nature et les sports en plein air!

• arts
• culture
• books
• literature
• photography
• concerts
• dining
• cooking
• breakfast
• running
• knitting
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• backpacking
• canoeing
• skiing
• snowboarding
• trail running
• sports
• swimming
• astronomy
• biology
• teaching
• history
• languages
• study abroad
• cultural immersion
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

I love music, from bluegrass to classical to indie to jazz. I used to play the double bass (hopefully will again someday when/if I am less mobile!). I am not averse to singing and dancing to crappy pop and hip hop.

Some of my favorite authors are Dave Eggers, Kurt Vonnegut, and Dostoevsky. I also love to read (and pour over the photos in) the NY Times and National Geographic.

I really enjoy films (drama, animation or comedy, not scary ones!) including the Muppets, and anything by Wes Anderson and Miyazaki.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

backpacking in New Hampshire in December (brrr!!) and tramping for three weeks in the Te Wai Pounamu, New Zealand's South Island.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can share a recipe or two, my knowledge of english and french, some (amateur) digital photo know-how, and an enormous love of the outdoors

Countries I’ve Visited

Finland, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Sweden

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, New Zealand, United States