Where do I begin? I'm an avid cook (and therefore a foodie), outdoor enthusiast, political activist, music and animal lover. Travel has been a passion of mine all of my adult life and I'm happy to be getting back to it after a break during the pandemic. Couchsurfing has been and continues to be an integral part of my journey. I still might get my TESOL one day, but currently I'm trying to embrace the digital nomad lifestyle with my writing and photography.

I've finally met a man that shares my passion for my kind of travel and I'm excited to introduce him to the CS world! Check out his profile below. You will be staying with both of us if you surf at our place, and we sometimes send requests together.

https://www.couchsurfing.com/people/travis-taylor-9

PHILOSOPHY

Travel can truly be a force for good and is the key to solving many of the problems the world is now facing in my opinion. Breaking down those barriers and realizing how similar we all are is paramount. Once we all start working together, we can accomplish incredible things. Travel connects us, and reminds us that we aren't that different after all.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I heard of Couchsurfing on my first trip to Costa Rica and loved the premise of it. I long had "hosted" people in my house, but not on the Couchsurfing platform. I love how this platform facilitates cultural understanding while easing the biggest barrier to travel, money. After all, some of my best memories in my travels thus far are from experiences in the local culture, from those who lived there.

I decided to test out Couchsurfing as a solo female in Canada, and had and incredible time, full of plenty of Couchsurfing and rideshares. I was hooked. I've used it in cities throughout the US, Canada and Mexico, always meeting incredible people along the way. I hosted a lot when I lived in New Orleans. I've traveled extensively throughout the US, and lived in Orlando, New Orleans, San Diego and LA.

Now, my boyfriend and I live two blocks from the beach in a cute European built town in the US and finally have a little space to host! I'm also looking foward to getting to know the CS community in Europe this year.

Interests

Traveling (of course), cooking, animals, anything outdoors, music, food, learning new languages, politics, wandering, reading, writing, learning, tech

• cats
• writing
• photography
• music
• parks
• travel
• food
• nature
• hooping
• tech

Music, Movies, and Books

Not a big movie person, I never seem to have the attention span for it. Netflix tempts me with some great documentaries though. I tend to not have time to watch TV, because I'm too busy being outside, writing, working on my projects... I watch the news too much, which is enough television for me. Who needs reality tv when actual reality is wild enough? Journalism has always been a passion of mine though. I don't usually talk about it unless someone else brings it up and wants to. I usually have an opinion on current affairs though.

I LOVE music, and it is usually playing all day in my house. That's how I unwind more so than watching TV. Many times I let Pandora pick the music for me (pesky algorithims are too good). Its a mix of channels that my friends and guests have added, and I'll probably have you add one if you stay with me. Some of my favs lately have been Beats Antique, Thievery Corporation, Rufus Du Sol, Madeleine Peyroux, St Paul and the Broken Bones, Megan Thee Stallion... My music tastes are all over the place. I'm a sucker for streets and bars with live music, so let me know the best places for that if I visit your town please!

I do love reading, but tend to read more short, journalistic types of pieces. When I do read books, I overwhelmingly prefer nonfiction. When I do read fiction, they tend to be books that are dystopian or historical fiction. I do love some biographies too (Steve Jobs and Hillary Clinton surprised me!) I also love travel books and some good, old fashioned, Lonely Planet Guides. Some other of my favorite books have been:

Vagabonding by Rolf Potts (AMAZING travel inspiration!)
How to Travel the World on $50/day by Matt Kepnes (more great travel inspo)
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (classic for a reason)
1 Dead in the Attic by Chris Rose (great book about Nola culture/Katrina)
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Just to name a few.... I'm missing a lot on this list.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I can't pick one so heres a few highlights:

1) Hiking up the Cerro Chato volcano in Costa Rica and swimming in the pristine lake (Laguna Cerro Chato) in the crater. Getting caught in a downpour and slipping most of the way down.

2) Zip lining from mountain top to mountain top through the clouds above the jungle Superman style (on my belly with my feet behind me & arms out) in Monteverde Costa Rica.

3) Visiting two of the last Mayan villages yet to be touched by Christian missionaries near San Cristobal de Las Casas in Chiapas Mexico, and seeing not one but THREE chickens get sacrificed in their church. They also have a festival where they throw dead squirrels at people.

4) PALENQUE! Its a magical place. I must go back with more time.

5) Getting to go to Sundance Film Festival because my job happened to send me to Salt Lake City during it and it happened to be my birthday weekend, so a coworker that had been many times before showed me an incredible experience.

6) Celebrating the actual Cinco de Mayo in Puebla Mexico. Much different than in the US.

7) Hanging out with a monkey in the hot springs of Boquete Panama.

8) Living in New Orleans

Teach, Learn, Share

I would love to learn more languages. I am currently working on Spanish and have been taking classes in my travels to help. French will probably be the next one I try to tackle.

I also love learning useful tips and tricks for the outdoors. I've camped plenty of times, but definitely was not in the girl scouts.

I love hearing stories about what life is like in other countries, or just travel stories in general. I'm a story teller, and love hearing them as well :)

I can teach cooking, English, give budget and solo female travel advice and anything else in my brain that you feel is useful. I also wrote a guidebook to the Florida Springs and will probably give you one if you stay with me, or I with you. Feel free to check it out here though:

https://a.co/d/49hR4g9

What I Can Share with Hosts

I love cooking for my hosts! One of my favorite ways to discover a new place is through their food, so I love seeking out local markets. Plus its always so much more fun to cook for more than one person. If that's not your thing, then I'll gladly buy you some drinks, dinner out or help out with a project you might have. I'm also known to give out guide books and shark tooth jewelry that I make.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, England, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, Saint Martin (French part), United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States

•