CURRENT MISSION

Nurture my garden, explore the mountains, work on my PhD

ABOUT ME

I am a vagabond at every opportunity but have been pretty settled for the past couple of years because of a great job that brought me back to Calgary (just when I thought I'd escaped). I design and oversee education programs for immigrant and refugee children, and spending my days with them feeds my passion for the "world" and gives me a sense of purpose.

I would describe myself as outgoing and engaging in public yet pretty introspective in private. I sometimes let work get me stressed out (the good kind of stress, when you care about something too much), but for the most part I try to find humour and joy in everyday life.

But let's cut to the chase. I believe that junk drawers are one of the most under-appreciated and under-utilised modern inventions. If you visit, be prepared to take with you one useful or joyful object from my junk drawer.

PHILOSOPHY

The right people come into our lives at the right times, as long as we're listening.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I host for now.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've been hosted by CS hosts in Florida, Comox, and a few other spots. I'm always touched by hosts' openness and warmth, and it prompted me to get my profile going and host some folks since there's not much travel in my life at the moment.

Interests

I play ultimate and volleyball on a weekly basis; I get to the mountains at every opportunity for hiking, canoeing, camping, and wildlife-watching. I love to cook for people when I have the time; I'm working on my PhD applications (a long and grueling process!); I love going for walks around my neighbourhood; playing bocce and having picnics in local Calgary parks.

Music: Tallest man on earth, Hayes Carll, Ruth Brown, Head and the Heart, Washboard Union (my cousin's band), Dan Mangan, Fanfarlo, Lumineers, Mumford and Sons, Dixie Chicks, Xavier Rudd, and anything Blue Grass.

*I love live music, so if you show up with an instrument, be prepared to play me something ;)

• animals
• wildlife
• arts
• design
• street art
• education
• cooking
• gardening
• traveling
• music
• live music
• hiking
• canoeing
• camping
• volleyball
• teaching
• parks
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

I love biographies, anything about Africa, and I indulge in trashy pop-lit from time to time (and I enjoy the hell out of it).

Music - folk, bluegrass, indie, funk, whatever. As long as it stirs something in me.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

*I once had a green mamba slither over my bare foot as I watched in fascination (I didn't actually know it was a green mamba at the time). When ever I encounter wild animals - especially ones that have the potential to harm or kill - I am awestruck by the simplicity and mutual respect that exists in nature.

*Camping on BC's west coast or in the Canadian Rockies always stirs in me a kind of reverence.

*A few years back I spent Christmas Day in Bethlehem (which is in Palestine) and took many hours to admire the street art on the Wall that divides Israel and Palestine. Wandering through a Muslim town, celebrating a Christian holiday and enjoying the company of Palestinian shopkeepers was an unexpectedly joyful experience.

*Sometimes the toughest moments can be the most impactful. A couple years ago, my then-boyfriend had cancer and I spent some dark times with him in an NYC hospital. It was a blessing in disguise to witness human resilience in both him and the patients / caregivers / staff who surrounded us.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can cook a mean green curry.

My education background is in anti-racism, diversity, intercultural education, and experiential learning - this means I can talk your ear off about that stuff if you get me started.

I have been known to fix toilets that won't flush, with nothing more than a bobby pin. Not to brag.

Countries I’ve Visited

Botswana, Canada, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Norway, Palestine, Poland, Rwanda, South Africa, South Korea, Switzerland, Tanzania, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, Ghana, Rwanda, United States