CURRENT MISSION

I want to visit at least as many countries as how many years old I am.

ABOUT ME

I'm a TCK, a third culture kid. I am neither one thing, nor another, but belong to an ever growing subculture.

I am the child of American expats and was born and raised in Germany. For the past six years I've been living in Taiwan.

I have lived in 14 places in my life with Taipei actually being the place I have lived longest. But now my feet are starting to itch, telling me it is almost time to move on.

While in Taiwan I took a year off work to study Chinese at the university, took Chinese knotting, cooking and paper cutting classes, am learning about Chinese astrology, go to the Chinese medicine doctor for flaming acupuncture, and have explored all but three of Taiwan's counties.

I love learning about the history and culture of a place. I really try to immerse myself in travel, visiting lots of museums, but also seeking out unusual experiences and enjoying local delicacies. I see no point in traveling to a new place only to eat the same fast food and party in night clubs.

I have visited 28 countries so far, but it is never enough, there are so many more places to go.

PHILOSOPHY

I try to honest in my dealings with other people.

I do my best to care for the earth.

I love teaching because young children help me rediscover something interesting in the world around me every day.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I am planning many months of travels over the coming year or two and am looking for a clean and safe place to stay as I make my way through Asia.

I live in a shared apartment right now and cannot host people overnight. But I would love to meet people and show them around Taipei. I have lived here almost six years and make an excellent tour guide :)

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I grew up in an outgoing, friendly family where people were always coming and going in our home. My parents always had a student, an intern, an au pair or someone else sleeping in our spare room, usually for months at a time (actually it was my little brother's room, but he got the couch). We added it all up once and came up with over 32 years of house-guests!

Interests

History -
I studied Medieval European Religious History and Chinese History at university. Finding a way to combine my two interest areas into one thesis took some doing. I still love to sit down with a nice, weighty tome about the history of (insert place name). My dream courses include the history of the Ottoman Empire, the history of the papacy, and the history of race relations in Brazil.

Science Fiction -
I love to read it or watch it.

Culture/Language -
Growing up bilingual, and trying to learn a third language as an adult, I am fascinated by the interaction of culture and language. The technical term is sociolinguistics, but basically I enjoy discovering how language shapes culture and how culture influences language. And how both shape a person's world view.

Reducing/Reusing/Recycling/Regifting -
This has been very important to me since childhood. Buy less, buy secondhand or make do (you would be amazed at what you can all do with chopsticks), sort your garbage, share what you don't need with others.

• culture
• dining
• cooking
• fast food
• coach
• partying
• clubbing
• traveling
• socializing
• buddhist
• history
• medicine
• science
• tourism
• au-pair
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

I love sci-fi and the BBC. My favorites include ST:DS9, Buffy, Farscape, Battlestar Galactice (2003), Dr. Who, Torchwood, and Red Dwarf. I like ST:TNG, ST:VOY, The 4400, MST3K, Roswell, Angel, Haven, Eureka, Warehouse 13, Highlander, SG1, Tru Calling. The list goes on. I obviously watch too much TV, but I love the character development on TV versus movies.
Also, the best show ever was the late, great Wonderfalls.

My favorite sci-fi authors are Lois McMaster Bujold (Vorkosigan Saga), Catherine Asaro (Skolian Empire), Patricia Briggs, Tanya Huff and Wen Spencer.

My other favorite authors are Dorothy L. Sayers (Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries) and Laurie R. King (Mary Russell Holmes mysteries).

I enjoy children's literature and read all of the Newberry Award winners in High School. I think I have managed to read anything written by Lucy Maud Montgomery (Anne of Green Gables) that was ever published.

I'm not a big fan of movies, too short and too little story development. I enjoy watching sci-fi or action on the big screen for the sheer fun of the special effects though.

I only developed an interest in music in my 20s.

I grew up on and still enjoy music like Peter, Paul and Mary, Arlo Guthrie, The Smothers Brothers, Simon and Garfulkle and Sandy Denny.

Now I enjoy an eclectic mix. AKUS, Beirut, Gaelic Storm, Kasey Chambers, Regina Spektor, A Fine Frenzy, Galore, Jem, Glass Pear, The Be Good Tanyas, Neko Case, Rilo Kiley, Yael Naim, Paolo Nutini, Feist, etc.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I climed Emei Shan, one of the holy mountains of Buddhism, in the dark and the rain in order to watch the sun rise. It was so foggy at dawn that I didn't see a thing.

I was a birthing coach when I was 18 and was there when a friend had her baby.

Teach, Learn, Share

01. Always carry your own toilet paper.

02. Scan all your documents for easy access in case of loss, theft or natural disaster.

03. There are some adventures that you should only share with family after you have returned safely home.

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