I am an avid adventurer who is trying to fit in as much travel as possible while balancing working on my PhD. My husband Ryan and I love to both host and couchsurf together. Guests at our place know that I find my zen in the kitchen, and I love serving meals when we have people staying. We also have a super sweet goldendoodle named Scout, who will be your best friend for life.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I was introduced to Couchsurfing while traveling and staying with locals while networking the old-fashioned way. It didn't take long to be introduced to this wonderful community. The human interaction you get when staying with locals makes for unforgettable experiences and builds upon a community of travelers who share the same sense of adventure. Most importantly, the people I've met either from hosting or surfing have become good friends who I've made wonderful memories with and feel like I could count on if I landed in their city. I'm a couchsurfer because I like being part of a community that is open to whatever excitement the world has in store for them.

Interests

I love to understand the science behind cooking and baking. If I'm casually cruising the internet, I'm usually reading technical recipes or the news. I also love to kayak and sail.

Music, Movies, and Books

I have a robust and eclectic love of all sorts of music. While I'm cooking, I will listen to whatever is new and exciting or enjoy a Stan Getz / João Gilberto bossa nova album.

Pinning down a favorite movie is hard! I lot of movies that I love have solid ensemble casts and feature strong women leading interesting lives. I particularly love sci-fi, fantasy, and action movies, with the Oscar-worthy drama thrown in for good measure.

Favorite books include
A New Species of Trouble by Kai Erikson
The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science by J. Kenji López-Alt
Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly by Anthony Bourdain

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Rescued and released stranded dolphins

Teach, Learn, Share

I love to host guests at my table, and teach some new cooking skills to anyone who is interested. My head is really in the academic world right now, and there are many areas of expertise that I've cultivated over a long time. I love to discuss current affairs just as much as I love enjoying a great ginger beer together.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Very happy to bring a few bottles of your favorite local libation, pick up some dinner, or bring a treat from Chicago area that you can't get where you are. I'm very attentive to using space wisely and being a courteous guest. Also, I have a whole head of knowledge I'm trying to put to good use, and it's always nice to share all of it in conversation.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Italy, Puerto Rico, South Africa

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States

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