CURRENT MISSION

To see how many people in the world can say they've had a bedtime story read to them by me. Sorry, Ginji is unable to act the story out at this time...

ABOUT ME

I've sailed the Atlantic, Pacific, Mediterranean and Baltic Seas and the Mekong Delta. As my father is a seaman, it made it easier. Traveled a lot as I taught English and Intl. Trade overseas. The thing that keeps me traveling is the food, oh the food... and being able to live with and live like the locals. The best food you ask? Hands down: China. The worst? Sorry Sweden... you do have mighty fine baked goods though. Best coffee? Vietnam... they roast the beans in butter. Best looking men? Russia, that is until they reach a certain age. Easiest place to travel alone? New Zealand... just don't drive on the wrong side of the road. Most difficult? Uzbekistan. My habits include volunteering at a local food coop, volunteering to ski with disabled kids, reading Donald Miller and C.S. Lewis for inspiration, dancing (ballroom and otherwise), book club, hiking, mt. biking, watching PBS and making Swedish pancakes!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've not actually had the occasion to couchsurf through the website myself, but have made the habit of finding friends of friends to stay with in my travels. A few favorites were Zuoz, Switzerland with a friends father who is considered the town artist painting murals and sayings alike on the sides of homes. The town is famous for it! Another was staying with a woman who was starting an orphanage in Uganda... it's hard not to let something like that completely change your life.

Interests

• books
• dancing
• dining
• coffee
• clubbing
• reading
• traveling
• painting
• cycling
• hiking
• skiing
• volunteering

Music, Movies, and Books

I love Balkan music; my dream is to attend the Guca Trumpet festival someday. You can't be sad or motionless while listen to Balkan brass bands. Books, ahh... books. Many. Too many to love. And my favorite films are french starting with Amelie!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

One amazing thing I've done is host an Invisible Children (IC) film event -- same folks who just put out Kony2012 ( film to go viral and get more views faster than any other) film event. The team stayed at my place where we stayed up late talking before the big day. I plied them with Swedish pancakes and vitamin C and sent them to bed. The girls on the floor and couch and the boys in the tent. Of the four, one of them was from Uganda and had lived through the atrocities as an abductee. I don't think I've had a greater privilege than to know his story and extend hospitality to him. I hope for more of those experiences to come!

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Mexico, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan, Vatican City State, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

China, Czech Republic, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam