CURRENT MISSION

Learn and grow in a healthy, self-loving way from experiences, friends, and family

ABOUT ME

I've been in Paris for a year now. It has been an incredibly rich, self-exploratory 16 months that helped me learn where I am in my emotional, academic, and occupational life (and mostly where I'm not). I'll be here for another year before going to graduate school most likely back in the States.

Growing up in Hawaii was incredible - I was born and raised in a "hang loose" environment where people are informal and relaxed and believe that since today is going so well, tomorrow will take care of itself - very different than the typical Parisian attitude. After leaving my cocoon of warm winds and sunny weather, I went to Portland, Oregon where I met some of my best friends and had my share of fantastic times playing volleyball, studying, and generally reeking havoc that college students do.

Having grown up with a British father and a mother with flight benefits, I traveled a good deal growing up. I guess you could say that I was born with the travel bug. Studying abroad my junior year (2009) in Strasbourg, France opened my eyes to the European culture in a way that traveling for a few weeks at a time can't. I fell in the love with the French and wanted more and more and more.

Now I'm just trying to see as many places as I can while being in Europe and am having an amazing time in the process.

PHILOSOPHY

I want to wake up everyday with an optimistic answer to "How happy am I right now?"

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Just starting out with the CS experience, but I want to couchsurf, host, and have coffee!

Interests

Discovering new places, meeting interesting and personable people, traveling, neuropsychology, volleyball, making jewelry, reading anything I can get my hands on

• culture
• environment
• coffee
• reading
• traveling
• kayaking
• volleyball
• swimming

Music, Movies, and Books

The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, The Shadow of the Wind, anything by Jonathan Safran Foer, Pablo Neruda, Keith Barnes, Etta James, Cole Porter, The Strokes, The Poinsonwood Bible, anything by Tom Robins, Adele, Michael Chabon, JRR Tolkien, The Book of Flying

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Swimming in the Blue Grotto, Capri at sunset with my best friend

Riding barebacked on the Big Island of Hawaii

Paddling with dolphins off Diamond Head, Oahu at sunrise

Kayaking in the Seychelle Islands

Holding a sustained, intelligent conversation with any native French speaker

Riding a mule down the steep cliffs of Santorini

Teach, Learn, Share

"Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming." John Wooden

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Seychelles, Spain, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, United States

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