ABOUT ME
I grew up with a bleeding disorder (hemophilia) and this challenge from a young age really shaped who I am today. Because of all the injuries and trauma as a child I've made it core to my approach in life to be healthy and maintain my body as much as possible. I care deeply about those who encounter challenges outside their controll and seek to improve the systems that contribute to health disparities. I work in public health as an epidemiologist and wish to help advancing towards a world where Healthcare access is a certainty and not a privilege.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Was absolutely saved by Osman Ali when I first arrived in Netherlands. Could not find a place to live and the hostel in Maastricht was totally booked. Spent about 3 weeks with him and 5 other couch surfers until I graduated into a house of my own.

Interests

I love yoga and have made that an integral part of my life. I became a certified yoga 'teacher' through the Yoga Alliance, though I have taught very few classes. I love to play music and have played drums for years. I would like to to become a competent jazz drummer and tour someday and produce my own electro jazz funk someday. I love denim, and black leather. I am a bit of hedonist, and especially love smell and hope I can dabble in perfumery later in life. I know next to nothing about real photography but I have been playing around with cheap plastic cameras and film for a few years. It is sort of like a box of chocolates, I just never know what I am going to get out of them! I aspire to learn to partner dance...Perhaps salsa.

• photography
• festivals
• dancing
• yoga
• traveling
• cars
• music
• jazz
• drums
• camping
• boxing
• teaching

Music, Movies, and Books

Random assortment: Nabokov. Atom Tm, Patrick Watson. Phantogram, Cults, !!!, Ape Machine.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I went camping with a convoy of 25 cars to Sasquacht Music Festival in Washington, United States. Though we were loosely affiliated, we all had a connection to one another. On the second day of the festival we suited up, so to speak, and put on our Red and White stripes and donned the uniform of Waldo. Altogether we were 75 strong. If one of us was lost, all it took was a game of Wheres Waldo to find each other!

Living in the Netherlands was a triumph for me. I never thought I would be able to travel due to injuries as a kid. Recently I have found health and the courage to break away from my comforts. As someone who walked with a cane for many years, it is remarkable to think that I just moved over 150 lbs of shit with me through airports and train stations to get here.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I'm a public health expert! If this interests you I have much to discuss. I'm a yoga teacher and can offer some guidance on approach and positioning. I love music and can discuss many genres.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Mexico, Netherlands, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Netherlands, United States

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