CURRENT MISSION

Just moved to Vancouver to start my PhD! I'm an anthropologist studying the "War on Drugs" and the effects of prohibition.

ABOUT ME

I like taking pictures and dancing and being in forests. I also love hearing other peoples' stories. I'm a cultural anthropologist (PhD student) so I find people and their differences and similarities to be absolutely fascinating. I also have a strong political/activist slant to my research so I love discussing issues of social justice. Also a burner!

PHILOSOPHY

"Never confuse having a career with having a life."

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Hosting and travelling, any and all of it! Come visit me in Vancouver soon!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

My first time dealing with BC Ferries on Vancouver Island when I was 18, I took the wrong ferry when I was trying to get to Vancouver. Ended up on Saltspring island at 11 pm with no other ferries running, pretty much no money and no idea where I was. I was stressed out and almost in tears.

Enter amazing dock worker who took me home and introduced me to his wife, who gave me bread she had just baked, and his kids, with whom I played piano and sang songs! I slept on their couch that night (my very first time with strangers!) and in the morning, Bob and Daniella drove me to the ferries and made sure I got on the right one! It was such a wonderful experience and really shaped my desire to travel and meet other kind strangers, and pass along the karma to others.

Interests

Nature photography, dancing to live house music, hitting the glades with my snowboard, reading science fiction, learning more and more about human beings (myself included) and our closest primate relatives, camping in the woods with good friends and good beer, and travelling to new places (of course!).

• photography
• dancing
• cooking
• beer
• baking
• running
• reading
• traveling
• music
• guitar
• piano
• backpacking
• canoeing
• camping
• snowboarding
• science

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Anything except screaming or slide guitar. I especially love house, techno, trance and acoustic singer-songwriter (I know, one of these things is not like the others). Hip hop has also always been one of my first and closest loves.
Movies: I watch TV shows more - the good quality, HBO-style stuff like Deadwood and Breaking Bad, as well as comedies like Arrested Development, Futurama and 30 Rock. But the Lord of the Rings trilogy (the extended editions of course, haha) are my favourite films!
Books: Catch-22 by Joseph Heller is my favourite book. I love anything by Dave Eggers, Philippe Bourgois, Cormac McCarthy, JK Rowling... and about 300 others.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Been on a 52-day-long canoe trip in the woods of northern Ontario, completely isolated the entire time except for 6 other girls. I was 15. It was incredible. Also 4 months backpacking in Southeast Asia!

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach you Spanish, or how to play the guitar, or how to do pretty much anything on your computer short of programming. Want to learn how to turn your ear inside out? I can totally teach you. It'll probably hurt since you haven't been doing it since you were a toddler like I have. But we can try!

I would love love LOVE to learn how to cook your favourite meal. Anything you know that's delicious! Also, anything regarding auto/motorcycle mechanics.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can probably make your computer run faster. I can definitely give you a photography lesson! If you have baking supplies I can leave you with some delicious cookies :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, France, Guatemala, Italy, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, Mexico