Native New Yorker and Black American raised by a huge, wonderful family from Jamaica. The intersection of my ethnicity (Jamaican/ Afro-Caribbean), my nationality (American), are the basis of my studies and interests. Quick to laugh and also hungry for good company, good food, and good music. Sassy but not obnoxious; a good listener, but not without my opinions; a talker, but not one to say something unless it improves upon silence. I'm passionate about life and excited to take this step into the unknown.

My philosophy is very much oriented around justice and equity. I'm passionate about the lived experiences of people who are impacted by oppression and I want to live a life of service to change that.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

At the moment Couchsurfing is a viable way for me to explore new spaces I could call home. I'm really interested in expatriation (ask me why, if you're curious!). Any opportunity for me to build authentic community and networks around the world is one I can't pass up.

Interests

Social justice, feminism, the African Diaspora, my perspective on God and the divine but also exploring different expressions of faith or none at all. With one parent that is very devout and another that is atheist, I've grown up with an understanding for respect and appreciation for the beliefs of other. Family, **food**, wine , reading, beer, hair, makeup, fashion (how does one backpack in style?), politics, MUSIC, coloring, art and film.

• animals
• arts
• fashion
• coloring
• beauty
• dining
• wine
• beer
• politics
• reading
• traveling
• music
• hiking
• backpacking
• camping
• hunting
• atheism
• tourism

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Reggae, Dancehall, Neo-Soul (Lauryn Hill/Jazmine Sullivan/If you don't know who Jill Scott is, allow me to change your life. Please), Hip Hop (Common-era, A Tribe Called Quest, Biggie), of course hip hop, Jazz/Blues, Deep House. Love when genres come together (Major Lazer, Stromae, FloFilz)

I'm a pretty critical consumer of film so it's impossible for me to pick a favorite. At the moment, /cinema watcher but I just don't know where to start/I'm really critical about the way Blacks are portrayed in the industry so...yeah.

BOOOKSSS. Reading is my love so this section is a challenge. I'll come back to it soon!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

In my time abroad in Cape Town, we had the opportunity to hike through a game reserve for 3 days and camp by the Imfolozi River ( this starts out sounding so corny and Western-touristy, I know, but bear with me). I'm a born and raised city girl, so nature was really unfamiliar to me, and a bit suspect, even with a guide and a gun-totting guard. After having to wade across a waist deep river that we had just seen a crocodile go in (no lie), having to build a campsite, put together a fire from scratch, and sleep on a rock, each person in the group had the responsibility of staying up alone for one hour to watch the camp site for "eyes and sounds" and to keep the fire burning. My time came at 2 am- the pinnacle of pitch darkness. After 15 minutes of panicking, reviving the fire 3 times (and forever traumatizing my lungs), I managed to relax enough to look up. It felt like I was being introduced to the idea of the stars for the first time. I noticed the curve of the heavens. I saw my first shooting star. And for the very first time I felt intimately connected with the world around me. I saw the beauty, truly majestic, and I felt the touch of something divine, something I call God. It was a moment of change for me and a reminder to look for the divine in every place I get to see.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I think what I will be able to share is a unique perspective on one part of the American experience that I don't imagined is really expressed in the international travel community- The Black American/Afro Caribbean experience. There are so many misconceptions and curiosities around what it is to be Black in America and I'm happy to share my perspective on that.

Also, I love to cook and I cook well.