CURRENT MISSION

Traveling through South America documenting the growth in women’s sustainability, education levels, and labor participation by fair trade textile cooperative movements.

ABOUT ME

Lauren: Post-graduate, finally achieving my travel goals, which are one of my most important goals.

Stephanie: Graduated college 4 years ago, preparing for grad school while also taking an opportunity to travel. Sister and brother-in-law live in Uruguay but this is her first time in South America. Previously have backpacked through Iceland and road tripped through most of the American south and Texas.

PHILOSOPHY

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Host and Traveler!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Lauren: Took a road trip from Chicago to Salt Lake City where I stayed with couchsurfing hosts the entire trip! On the trip I stayed with several different types of folks for night stays, and hang-outs to show us around. My favorite host thus far was this amazing couple in Denver that actually made me and my fellow travelers dinner. BEST DINNER EVER! He was a nutrition specialist, first time I tried kale, now I'm obsessed. Also, his girl friend was from Peru and she was kind enough to share her pisco from Cusco with us, such a great couple. I haven't been a host yet, hopefully sometime soon.

Stephanie: I solo road tripped through the America's South on a way to visit friends in Arkansas and Mississippi. I couch surfed in Asheville, North Carolina and Louisville, Kentucky. Met amazing people, saw parts of the town/city I would never have discovered on my own and got some stellar hiking and eating tips. Really reestablished my faith in humanity.

Interests

Lauren: photography, philosophy, feminism, installation art, public art, linguistics, translating, south america, mexico, spanish, art history, books, knitting, biking, handmade, ancient rock art, hiking, climbing, sweets, the sun, light, swimming, mirrors, Nellie Campobello, Elena Poniatowska, Seinfeld, Roland Barthes, Cesar Vallejo, film, alternative photographic processing.

Stephanie: psychology (lacan), contemporary/postmodern philosophy (Zizek, Deleuze, Focuault, Badiou, Chomsky), labor rights, 19th/20th art, literature & poetry, biking (especially as a mode of transportation in the city), hiking, swimming, travel, environmental rights, documentaries, cinema, feminist/humanist rights, etc.

• arts
• writing
• books
• literature
• poetry
• photography
• documentaries
• education
• womens rights
• movies
• traveling
• knitting
• cycling
• hiking
• hunting
• rock climbing
• swimming
• art history
• teaching
• history
• law
• psychology
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

Lauren: Coming to Writing by Hélène Cixous, 100 Years of Solitude, Brothers Karamazov, How A Person Should Be by Sheila Heti, Cartucho, Violeta Parra, Beach House, Modest Mouse, Broadcast, Grizzly Bear, My Bloody Valentine, Michael Andrews.

Stephanie: Anna Karenina, Brothers Karamazov, How Should A Person Be? Welcome To The Desert of The Real, Light in August, Robinson Jeffers, The Bell Jar, Clarissa, Abnormal, Cormac Mccarthy & Don Delillo's canon, T.S. Eliot, etc
Modest Mouse, Macha, Bedhead, Pavement, Smog/Bill Callahan, Silver Jews, Elliott Smith, Nick Cave, Bikini Kill, Joan of Arc, Electrelane, Muddy Waters, Women, Wye Oak
20th/contemporary American, Western European, German & Eastern European film, pretty much any decent documentary.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Lauren: Upon driving back to Phoenix, AZ from Monument Valley during the night, I saw the most stars I have ever seen in my life. Coming from a predominate city (Chicago), I have never experienced such a myriad of stars, and shooting stars! Also, Guell Park in Barcelona is my FAVORITE parque en el mundo!

Stephanie: I did an epic 16 hour solo hike through the mountains of east Iceland. It was both terrifying and exhilarating and taught me my own endurance level and at times stupidity. Saw wild sheep, puffins, expansive coasts, abandoned lighthouses and more empty space then I could ever imagine.

Teach, Learn, Share

Lauren: I would love to teach, learn, and share with you photography! Maybe you are an amateur photographer and need some tips on how to get the best shots, or technical questions. In the past with some of the hosts I have stayed with, I have taken their portraits and sent them a print in exchange for the stay! I would love to add you to the on-going series.

Stephanie: I would love to discuss and share experiences (intellectual or personal). In the past I've written poems to give the wonderful hosts I have stayed with as a token of my appreciation. I can also help with film and/or writing editing questions.

Countries I’ve Visited

Costa Rica, France, Iceland, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States