CURRENT MISSION

I'm on my first European adventure. I'm just finishing up a field quarter with my university at STARESO Oceanographic Research Institute at Caliv, Corsica.

ABOUT ME

I am born and raised in Juneau, Alaska. Growing up in the wilderness gave me a huge appreciation of nature and the earth. I love backpacking, hiking, skiing, kayaking, camping, and anything outside. The long winters in Alaska also gave me a love of the arts; I paint, draw, play piano and clarinet, act, and sew.

But one of my biggest loves is the ocean. I am studying marine biology at University of California Santa Cruz. I am not sure what I want to study once I finish my last year there, but it is a massive world and an equally gigantic ocean.

In high school I participated in a year long Rotary Youth Exchange program to New Zealand. It was undoubtedly the best year of my life. I met some absolutely amazing people from all over the world, and it gave me a taste of what travelling can be like.

For three summers I worked on whale watching tours out of Juneau, Alaska. I have seen some amazing whale behavior, including bubble netting by the humpback whales and orcas feeding.

This summer I spent three months in Seward, Alaska interning at the Alaska Sea Life Center. I worked with their harbor seal research program studying the population decline of harbor seals in Aialik Bay. I had an amazing time going out on the water two times a week and getting to work with the animals on display at the center. I also got to go backpacking in Denali National Park and saw grizzly bears, wolves, caribou, and moose.

I am so excited to begin my world travels, and look forward to meeting all sorts of people, seeing some amazing places, and having the most wonderful experiences.

PHILOSOPHY

I try to live by three things;
No expectations
No worries
No regrets
I feel that if I can live by this, then I have lived fully.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I look forward to both surfing and hosting people from all walks of life. I've learned that the only way for people to understand each others is to literally take them into your home, show them your life, culture, and loves, and hope that they will go on in their travels and tell others about your culture, and eventually reciprocate the kindness.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I was first introduced to couch surfing by a friend in Santa Cruz, California. Whenever I went over to visit him, he always had someone staying with them, people from all over the world! We had some great times hanging out with them, and one of them even came back to live in Santa Cruz permanently.

Interests

Anything involving the outdoors, the arts, and the ocean. I am always ready for an adventure, and very flexible. I love to cook, and love to learn different recipes and helping out in the kitchen. I read a lot, mostly fiction.

• animals
• arts
• culture
• dancing
• cooking
• recipes
• traveling
• painting
• drawing
• piano
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• backpacking
• kayaking
• camping
• surfing
• scuba diving
• skiing
• biology
• environmental studies
• tours

Music, Movies, and Books

Where to start! I'll listen to any music; folk, indie, oldies, rock, classical, anything really.

I read a good deal. One my new favorite authors is Bernard Cornwell. I love fiction of all types, including science fiction and mystery.

I love old movies, including westerns and samurai movies. I haven't seen a lot of newer movies (I haven't been in a movie theater in months). This summer I worked in a town that only had one screen, so I watched most of my movies off Netflix.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I spent a year on exchange in New Zealand, based out of Auckland. I grew up in Alaska, so there are many things I would consider 'normal' which others might consider 'amazing'; moose in my front yard, whales breaching in the dawn light, the northern lights, heard wolves howl, and have gone scuba diving with sea lions 60 feet below the water.

Teach, Learn, Share

I am very knowledgeable in marine mammals, environmental studies, and anything about travelling in Alaska. I know a little bit of Japanese, but I am anxious to learn more and to travel to Japan. I can ski double black diamonds, scuba dive, sew, and play the piano.

I would love to learn anything anyone is willing to teach me; a dance, a recipe, a song.

•