CURRENT MISSION

To explore

ABOUT ME

Hello there! I am graduate student at the University of Michigan, and am going for my English & Women's Studies joint Ph.D. I've been at it four years, and am now "ABD" (All But Dissertation). I just finished my first chapter on centipede symbolism in William Burroughs's work, and am looking to take a break before turning to my second chapter, which looks at spidery imagery in Philip K. Dick's work. If you asked my best friend about me, she'd say I really need a break, hence our trip through Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands this March!

PHILOSOPHY

I try to keep things chill.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I am visiting my best friend who moved to Dublin a few months ago from March 5-22, and during that time we'll be embarking on a week-long trip. I would like the opportunity to couchsurf while I am over there, but I also look forward to hosting here in Ann Arbor before and after that trip should anyone take me up on my offer!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I am just filling my profile out today. I hope to couchsurf in March when I am in Europe, but I also hope someone uses my couch before or after!

Interests

I spend most of my days reading and writing, but when I'm not doing that, I enjoy cooking, watching movies and television, bicycling, going out with friends to the local brewery.

• writing
• cooking
• movies
• reading
• poker
• piano
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

Books: William Burroughs, Philip K. Dick, Octavia Butler, and Don DeLillo so much I've dedicated an entire dissertation to them! I also like to keep up with recent new media theory/ animal studies/ cognitive science. Music: I love ambient music, from Vangelis to Brian Eno to Klaus Schulze. Some other favorites are Explosions in the Sky, Sigur Ros, DJ Shadow, Bat for Lashes, Sleigh Bells. TV: I'm a Joss Whedon and BSG fan in particular, but I love everything from Sliders and Quantum Leap to Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead. I guess I tip towards the science fiction/fantasy spectrum, but I'll even watch half a season of a failed sitcom just for the "historical context." Grad students are suckers like that...

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Watching the bats at dusk, Carlsbad Caverns in the Guadalupe Mountains of southeastern New Mexico

Teach, Learn, Share

I pay my way through grad school by trading on my facility to invite lively discussion, so I love a vibrant discussion about almost anything. I can also play the piano and am pretty good at one-off lessons. I can also teach you how to hulu-hoop correctly, and if pressed, can do a choreographed hulu-hoop routine to "Poker Face" by Lady Gaga. I like to learn anything new, though if someone out there in the world could finally teach me how to whistle, I would be forever in your debt.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Mexico

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States