CURRENT MISSION

LOVE EVERYONE. EMBRACE THE JOURNEY AHEAD. BE BOLDER ABOUT LIFE.

ABOUT ME

My current career and life goal is humanitarian, so I want to learn tons about the world and find my place in how to help out those that need help. I absolutely adore my family, which is my two wonderful parents, my big bro and big sis, and my closest girlfriends. I don't particularly want to leave them, but I know I want to live and work outside of the US sometime in the future. I love South America, but am so excited to feel the vibes of the other continents out there.

PHILOSOPHY

Love. Take time for family and friends. Experiences are sometimes priceless. Always eat seconds. Put your self in someone else's shoes. Retrospect is a good forum for learning.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Right now I am trying to work out the CS system so I can meet some people and make some connections, but I suppose I participate by spreading the word about couchsurfing. I was just recently at a family function in a small farming community of southern Minnesota, and I delighted in explaining the process to my aunts that were telling me repeatedly that they would be praying for me as I traveled. It was precious and I am so blessed to have them, but I hope I conveyed my message...couchsurfing will break down cultural barriers and create more global awareness...that's what so many of us NEED!!!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I'm a newbie.

Interests

My four general interests are my family, music, traveling, and giving back. My brother and sister are my best friends, and we love spending time together. My parents are two of the best people on the planet, in my opinion, and they have done so much for me. I don't see them very often as they live an hour away, but I love reconnecting with them when I get the chance. The four of them are such amazing souls. I get my strength from them.

Music is my other escape from stresses and the real world, so I often sleep with my iPod, stream alternative radio in my office, or just crank up the tunes as I wash the dishes. I love the place that music takes me...it usually dissolves my problems away. If my savings were bigger, I think I would frequent more of the concerts in this musical city.

As far as traveling, I don't have that much experience with it, but I have known for some time that I want to devote a significant amount of time to the trade. I dreamed in high school of making a living by helping others and traveling the world. My first experience abroad by myself I was in Ecuador, and I was able to intern in a hospital, learning a ton, and trying to make some of the women I met smile. The time abroad was magnificent. I hadn't even fathomed what can be learned from a different culture. I am so so so hungry for more. I love the South American culture, with the music and delicious food, and I love the connections I was able to make in the three short months abroad. It is so crazy to think about the number of people on this planet. There are so many opportunities to learn something new, and smile and laugh with someone created special in their own way.

• culture
• concerts
• dining
• working out
• traveling
• music

Music, Movies, and Books

MUSIC!!! I love it!!! I love Death Cab for Cutie, Bon Iver, John Legend, Tegan & Sara, The Shins, Bob Dylan, Spoon, Bob Marley, Ben Kweller, Mae, Feist, Iron and Wine, Simon and Garfunkel, Jose Gonzalez, Balkan Beat Box, Tomer Yosef, and Ryan Adams. There are so many, but these are the artists I frequent.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I took a trip to Tijuana, Mexico during spring break, and we met some amazing people. On the last night of our stay in Tijuana, it was Holy Thursday before Easter, and one of the men hosting us took us to a ceremony that we thought was going to be a mass. But instead we went to the border between the US and Mexico for a foot washing ceremony. Some of the local missionaries were providing the recently deported emigrants with food and a complimentary foot washing. I was stunned. At one point, one of the sisters, Sister Aurelia is her name, grabbed me and sat me down in a chair and started washing my feet. I was so taken aback that I started crying. It was so moving, and once my feet were dry, they gave me a bar of soap and a towel and pointed me to a man that had just gotten off of a bus from Los Angeles. He was originally from Acapulco (I wanted to ask him why the heck he would leave Acapulco), and I think he was a little worried that I was washing his callused feet. I was happy to be doing it. It was a completely surreal experience. There were so many people dropped off at the border that night. Some of them had paper bags with their belongings. Some of them looked terrified, others completely calm. I was jumping around inside. I will remember that Holy Thursday forever.

Teach, Learn, Share

I recently learned at work that sometimes it is best to ask for forgiveness rather than ask for permission. I haven't had to ask for forgiveness yet, but I am hoping that my daring moves at work that were done without complete permission were the right ones and I won't have to ask for forgiveness.

Countries I’ve Visited

Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Uganda, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Ecuador, United States

•