CURRENT MISSION

Seeking balance. Enjoying every day.

ABOUT ME

I am a graduate student in international relations, concentrating on international development. I try to have a positive impact through my work.

I've spent a good bit of my 20s living and traveling abroad. I studied in Senegal from 2006 to 2007, and then returned to West Africa as a Peace Corps volunteer from 2009 to 2011. After my service ended, I spent a month and a half traveling with friends and couch surfing. I lived in Cape Town last summer and loved every minute, especially climbing its breathtaking mountains and surfing its pristine beaches.

PHILOSOPHY

I try to leave it better than I found it.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I've only surfed so far, but I would love to host once I settle somewhere after finishing school.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I couch surfed in Morocco and Europe in 2010 and 2011 and had a great experience! I haven't been able to host yet, but am looking forward to it at some point.

Interests

Food! (I love to cook AND eat, but only non-meat)
International development and global justice
Soccer
Bicycling
The great outdoors
Art in many forms
Kids
America's Midwest
Surfing (this is a new one!)

• arts
• dining
• cooking
• vegetarian
• traveling
• eating out
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• surfing
• rock climbing
• soccer
• international relations
• volunteering
• beaches
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

Books: To Kill a Mockingbird, Of Mice and Men, The Street, Little Women, The Power of One, Le Petit Prince, Jane Austen, Albert Camus

Movies: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Stand By Me, La Haine, This Is Spinal Tap, Man on Wire and lots of other documentaries

Music: Okkervil River, Wilco, Simon and Garfunkel, Andrew Bird, Bon Iver, Calexico, Aimee Mann, Otis Redding, Cat Stevens, Bob Dylan, Yann Tiersen, Debussy

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

In 2005, I spent two months cycling 4,000 miles from coast to coast across the United States. I deeply believe that a bicycle is a traveler's best companion.

Teach, Learn, Share

I love to cook, especially vegetarian food, and I am happy to teach and share with others.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Cabo Verde, Czech Republic, France, Gambia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Mali, Morocco, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Senegal, South Africa, United States